US once again expresses concern over ‘intimidation, voter suppression’ reports during Pakistan polls

The United States (US) has once again expressed concerns over the reports of intimidation and voter suppression during the elections in Pakistan, held on February 8 across the country.

"We are concerned and we share concerns about some of the reports that we've heard coming out of Pakistan in terms of intimidation, voter suppression," White House spokesperson John Kirby said during an interaction with reporters on Friday.

"We're watching this very, very closely," he added.

“International monitors are still taking a look at those tallies, I’m not going to get ahead of that process.”

Earlier, the US urged Pakistani authorities to investigate the claims of 'irregularities and rigging in the February 8 polls through its legal system'.

“I don’t know what body are they proposing to conduct an independent investigation would be. Right now, it’s a matter of first course, legal system play itself out in Pakistan, that’s the appropriate first step to take, and we think that’s the step that should be taken,” US State Department’s spokesperson Matthew Miller responded when a journalist asked about the demand for an independent probe raised by several US lawmakers.

“If there are additional steps that ought to be entertained we are happy to look into that. Certainly, we want to see the freedom of assembly respected anywhere in the world.” he added.

“We did express concerns publicly, we also expressed those concerns privately and joined the EU, the UK and other countries in doing so with some irregularities that we saw in the process,” he stressed while responding to a question about the US reaction to the alleged rigging.

“We emphasize that we want to see the rule of law, respect for constitution, free press, vibrant civil society respected in the run of the elections, and we continue to believe that is the case,” Miller added.