By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan prepares for a crucial parliamentary election on Thursday, several human rights and media groups have urged the authorities to ensure a free and fair vote and uninterrupted Internet access amid allegations of harassment and rigging by the party of former prime minister Imran Khan.
The UN’s top human rights body, Amnesty International, and other organizations have expressed alarm over the “pattern of harassment, arrests, and prolonged detentions” of political leaders and candidates, mainly from the opposition Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf party of Khan, who is serving a total of 34-year prison sentence after being convicted in four cases and has been disqualified from running.
Khan’s PTI has accused the caretaker government and the powerful military of rigging the election and preventing it from campaigning unlike its rival political parties in the country. Authorities deny having any favorites.
Raoof Hasan, a spokesman of Khan’s party, said a “reign of terror had been unleashed on the PTI for the past 22 months” to dismantle the party and remove Khan from the political scene.
He demanded the constitution of an independent judicial commission to bring the truth about alleged dismantling of the PTI before the nation.
Liz Throssell, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a news briefing in Geneva on Tuesday that the UN was disturbed by the reports of violence and intimidation against political parties and candidates.
“We are disturbed therefore by the pattern of harassment, arrests and prolonged detentions of leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) party and their supporters which has continued during the election period,” Throssell said.
She said multiple legal cases have been brought against former prime minister, which have disqualified him as a candidate and sentenced him to long prison terms.
“Ahead of Thursday’s parliamentary election in Pakistan, we deplore all acts of violence against political parties and candidates, and urge the authorities to uphold the fundamental freedoms necessary for an inclusive and meaningful democratic process.”
The statement came hours after the caretaker interior minister, Gohar Ejaz, announced that the country had finalized all arrangements for the polls, but warned that internet disruptions and shutdowns were a possibility during the Feb. 8 election.
Ejaz said the decision to suspend internet services would be taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in consultation with the security agencies, and that it would be done only in “extreme cases” to prevent any untoward incidents.
In response, Amnesty International and several other groups that are part of the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network of over 300 organizations from 105 countries working to end internet shutdowns — issued a joint statement appealing to the prime minister and the chief election commissioner to guarantee uninterrupted access to the internet and digital communication platforms for everyone in Pakistan.
“We, the undersigned organizations and members of the #KeepItOn coalition — a global network of over 300 organizations from 105 countries working to end Internet shutdowns — appeal to you, Prime Minister Mr. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, to publicly commit to ensuring that the people of Pakistan have unfettered access to the Internet, social media platforms, and all other communication channels throughout the upcoming general election on February 8,” the Amnesty International said in a statement.
The groups said that internet shutdowns violate the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and participation in public affairs, and that they undermine the credibility and transparency of the election.
“As the people of Pakistan prepare to vote, authorities in Pakistan must adopt and prioritize measures that advance human rights, by enabling unrestricted access to information and avenues for freedom of expression, assembly, and association — both offline and online. This will also contribute to an inclusive, free, and fair election process.”
The Committee to Protect Journalists said in a statement said Pakistani authorities must allow journalists to work freely and safely in the run-up to elections on February 8, allow nationwide access to the internet, and unblock the investigative news website FactFocus.
The elections are seen as a crucial test for Pakistan’s democracy, which has been interrupted by military coups and political instability in the past. The election will see 17,800 candidates vying for 266 national and 593 provincial seats, with an estimated 128.6 million voters expected to cast their ballots across the country of over 241 million people.
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