The United Nations has expressed its concerns about the incidents of ‘harassment’ and violence committed against members of the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) party in anticipation of Pakistan’s upcoming elections on Thursday. UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Turk has urged Pakistani authorities to consider this election as an opportunity to redouble their commitment to democratic processes.
In a recent press briefing in Geneva, Liz Throssell, a UN rights spokesperson, condemned all forms of violence against political parties and candidates and called upon the authorities to uphold the fundamental freedoms necessary for a meaningful and inclusive democratic process. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has received 24 reports of attacks carried out by armed groups against politicians, a clear violation of Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which accords every individual the right to participate in their country’s governance.
The former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been rendered ineligible to contest in the upcoming elections due to multiple criminal charges against him. He received a 14-year sentence on corruption charges, 10 years for revealing state secrets, and 7 years for illegal marriage. However, Khan’s party has characterised these convictions as clandestine Machiavellian maneuvers.
Spokesperson Liz Throssell also pointed out the lack of compliance with quotas for female representatives in some political parties. This indicates potential gender disparity issues that may need urgent review.