ISLAMABAD: The United Nations top human rights body, Amnesty International and several other human rights organizations on Tuesday called for uninterrupted Internet access and a free and fair election in Pakistan, amid allegations of “harassment” by former prime minister Imran Khan’s party.
Pakistan is headed to the national elections on Thursday, with 17,800 candidates running for 266 national and 593 provincial seats and a total of 128.6 million voters expected to exercise their right to vote in the nationwide polls.
The polls have been marred by allegations of rigging and harassment, primarily by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which says it has been unable to campaign unlike its rival political parties in the country. Authorities deny having any favorites.
Khan has been sentenced to 34 years in jail after being convicted in four cases and has been disqualified from running. His party and supporters claimed the sentences were a punishment for his rhetoric against Pakistan’s powerful military.
During a news briefing in Geneva, Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, urged Pakistani authorities to ensure a free and fair voting process, adding the UN body was disturbed “by the pattern of harassment, arrests and prolonged detentions of leaders.”
“Ahead of Thursday’s parliamentary election in Pakistan, we deplore all acts of violence against political parties and candidates, and urge the authorities to uphold the fundamental freedoms necessary for an inclusive and meaningful democratic process,” she said.
The statement came hours after Pakistan’s Caretaker Interior Minister Gohar Ejaz announced the South Asian country of over 241 million had finalized all arrangements for the elections, but added Internet disruptions and shutdowns were a possibility during the Feb. 8 polls.
In response to Ejaz’s announcement, Amnesty International, along with several other human rights organizations, called on Pakistani authorities to guarantee uninterrupted access to the Internet and digital communication platforms for everyone across the country.
“We, the undersigned organizations and members of the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network of over 300 organizations from 105 countries working to end Internet shutdowns — appeal to you, Prime Minister Mr. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, to publicly commit to ensuring that the people of Pakistan have unfettered access to the Internet, social media platforms, and all other communication channels throughout the upcoming general election on February 8,” the Amnesty International said in a statement.
“As the people of Pakistan prepare to vote, authorities in Pakistan must adopt and prioritize measures that advance human rights, by enabling unrestricted access to information and avenues for freedom of expression, assembly, and association — both offline and online. This will also contribute to an inclusive, free, and fair election process.”
The elections come as Pakistan is mired in political feuding and continues to tread a tricky path to economic recovery after securing a $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout program last year.
With Khan out of the picture, three-time former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who returned to the country months ago and has been absolved of past convictions, seems to be only one top contender for the post of the premier.
Raoof Hasan, a member of Khan’s party, demanded the constitution of an independent judicial commission to bring the truth about alleged dismantling of the PTI before the nation.
He said a “reign of terror had been unleashed on the PTI for the past 22 months” to dismantle the party and remove Khan from the political scene.
