LONDON: The British government has said it is concerned “about the fairness and lack of inclusiveness of the elections” held on February 8.
In a statement when the final count had yet to be announced, Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron said the UK and Pakistan enjoy a close and long-standing relationship, underpinned by strong ties between our people.
He praised voters but said: “We regret that not all parties were formally allowed to participate in the elections and that legal processes were used to prevent the participation of some political leaders and the use of recognizable party symbols. “We also take note of the restrictions imposed on Internet access on election day, significant delays in the presentation of results and allegations of irregularities in the counting process.”
Lord Cameron said in reference to Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) losing the bat symbol before the elections and the inability of many senior leaders not to participate in the elections.
He said: “The UK calls on Pakistani authorities to uphold fundamental human rights, including free access to information, and the rule of law. This includes the right to a fair trial, through respect for due process and an independent and transparent judicial system, free of interference.”
Lord Cameron said the UK government looked forward to working with Pakistan's next government. He said: “The election of a civilian government with a mandate to implement crucial reforms is essential for Pakistan to prosper. The new government must be accountable to the people it serves and work to represent the interests of all citizens and communities of Pakistan with equity and justice. We look forward to working with the next government of Pakistan to achieve this and across the board our shared interests.”
David Cameron, the former British leader who forced the Brexit referendum, returned to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government as foreign secretary four months ago.
