Biden Official's Slip Fuels Concerns Over US Stance on Upcoming Pakistan Election
-
A Biden administration official accidentally said the US supports "democratic suppression" in Pakistan before correcting himself to "democratic expression." This slip led some to accuse the US of backing election rigging.
-
Pakistan is holding national elections in February amid allegations from critics that the vote will not be free or fair. Former PM Imran Khan, currently in jail on corruption charges, has been barred from running.
-
Members of Khan's party have allegedly been arrested or abducted when trying to file election paperwork. The US State Department has largely avoided directly criticizing this.
-
When pressed on the US stance, spokesperson Matthew Miller said the US wants to see "free, fair and peaceful" elections but wouldn't dictate specifics to Pakistan.
-
Miller immediately corrected himself after initially saying the US backs "democratic suppression." Some called this a Freudian slip revealing the administration's true passive stance.