Human rights activists in Pakistan have warned of unfree elections. A few weeks before the general elections, Pakistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission (HRCP) on Monday spoke of “blatant manipulation of the electoral landscape”. “At this time, there is little evidence that the upcoming elections will be free, fair or credible,” said a statement from the HRCP organization.
The Human Rights Commission complained, among other things, about the rejection of candidates’ application documents, attempts at intimidation and the crackdown on gatherings of party members. Just this weekend, the electoral authority of the country with more than 240 million inhabitants rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s documents for the parliamentary elections on February 8. HRCP did not mention the popular former Prime Minister or his PTI party in its statement.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was allowed to contest the elections. Sharif is seeking a fourth term despite being given a ‘lifetime disqualification’ by the Supreme Court. Both Khan and Sharif experienced political decline after falling out of favor with powerful generals. The nuclear power’s military has been considered crucial to the rise and fall of politicians for decades. (sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
