US Sees Pakistan’s Coalition Formation As Internal Matter

The United States has reiterated that discussions regarding the formation of a coalition government in Pakistan are deemed the country’s “internal affair.” The US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, emphasized this stance during a press briefing on Wednesday. Additionally, the US has reiterated its call for Islamabad to thoroughly investigate allegations of electoral fraud arising from the recent national polls held last week.

In response to a question about Imran Khan’s exclusion from a potential coalition government, despite his supported candidates winning the most seats, Miller underscored that the formation of coalitions is a common occurrence in parliamentary systems, especially when no party secures a majority. He emphasized that such political developments are ultimately Pakistan’s internal matter.

Read more: US Urges Investigation Into Alleged Pakistan Election Interference

Addressing concerns from American lawmakers who have urged the non-acceptance of Pakistan’s elections without a comprehensive investigation into allegations of rigging, Miller reiterated the US’s stance. He emphasized the importance of investigating rigging allegations as the appropriate step, not only in Pakistan but also globally. Despite concerns, Miller acknowledged that the elections in Pakistan were competitive, and the US looks forward to collaborating with the government elected by the Pakistani people once it is formed.

The general elections on February 8 concluded without any single party securing a clear majority to independently form a government. Independent candidates, supported by the incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan, secured the highest number of seats. However, as they were unable to contest elections under Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as the party with the most seats, followed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Despite the PTI’s claim of victory and the assertion that its affiliated candidates secured the highest number of seats, concerns have been raised about the potential formation of a government through what Khan termed “illegitimate votes.” In a message from prison on Tuesday, Khan warned of adverse impacts on the country’s economy if a government is formed based on alleged irregularities in the voting process.