Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Thursday that the Pakistani government would introduce a resolution in the National Assembly to counter a recently adopted US motion regarding democracy in Pakistan. His statement follows a day after the US House of Representatives passed resolution HR 901, expressing robust support for democracy in Pakistan, with an overwhelming 368-7 vote.
The US resolution, titled ‘Expressing support for democracy and human rights in Pakistan,’ urges US President Joe Biden to collaborate with Pakistan in upholding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. It emphasizes the importance of free and fair elections and calls for a thorough and independent investigation into any claims of interference or irregularities in Pakistan’s 2024 elections.
In response, the Pakistani Foreign Office (FO) stated that the resolution stemmed from an “incomplete understanding” of Pakistan’s political situation and electoral process. The FO asserted that the timing and context of the resolution did not align with the positive dynamics of US-Pakistan bilateral ties and emphasized the need for constructive dialogue based on mutual respect.
During today’s National Assembly session, Deputy PM Dar reiterated the FO’s response and announced that, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s permission, the government would bring a resolution to counter the US resolution. “We must show our sovereignty, we must show our unity, we must show that we mean business,” he stated.