Watch: Pakistan politician praises 'enemy country' India for free and fair elections, slams rigging culture

Pakistan opposition leader Shibli Faraz on Thursday (Jun 13) heaped praises on 'enemy country' India for the successful and peaceful conduct of Lok Sabha elections, results of which were announced on June 4. He stressed the fact that no member of the opposition said the elections were rigged and the results were widely accepted.

“I don’t want to quote the example of the enemy country. Elections have recently concluded there, with more than 800 million people voting in lakhs of polling stations. The election was conducted using EVM for one month, but did anyone say the polls were rigged?” said Shibli Faraz.

“Why can’t Pakistan have free and fair elections?”

Rigging in Pakistan elections

Notably, Pakistan also held its general elections in February this year, which were marred by widespread allegations of rigging and interference by the powerful army.

Even a senior Pakistani official had admitted to election rigging as the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) held protests across the country. Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaqat Ali Chatta had accepted before the camera that the results were changed for the independent candidates affiliated to the PTI, jailed former premier Imran Khan's party.

Khan later blamed the Election Commission of Pakistan for turning the success of his party into a defeat. "It was the biggest robbery that was committed on the public mandate,” Khan said in remarks to the Supreme Court via video link.

India's election process

On the other hand, elections in neighbouring India concluded on June 1, with the end of phase seven polls. The results were announced on June 4 and were fully declared within 12 hours. Within a week, the new government had already settled in Delhi.

In his Thursday speech, Shibli Faraz highlighted the culture of election rigging in his nation and blamed corrupt politicians for the same.

“The one who loses (the election) doesn’t concede, and the winner remains unrelenting. These sorts of issues have left our country politically bankrupt,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)