Claim: A statement on the 2024 general elections in Pakistan issued by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union (EU) threatens “sanctions on several army generals, including the Chief of Army Staff and his top 16 officers, along with members of PMLN, MQM, and other relevant parties, including Nawaz Sharif and his associates” over a failure to announce genuine results in a timely manner. It also warns the Election Commission of Pakistan of “severe repercussions”.
Fact: The original statement issued by the European Union praises Pakistan for conducting elections and regrets “the lack of a level playing field”. It also urges an investigation into the “allegations of severe interference in the electoral process”, stresses upon the use of “peaceful and democratic mechanisms to settle differences”, and urges the country to implement the EU-Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan. It neither mentions any sanctions nor threatens repercussions.
On 17 February 2024, Soch Fact Check received an image on WhatsApp with a screenshot of a statement allegedly issued by the EU’s High Representative about the 2024 general elections in Pakistan.
The following text was added as the concluding paragraph to the statement:
“If there are any irregularities in the election outcome, it’s evident that the Pakistani populace has overwhelmingly supported PTI, indicating their victory, Failure to promptly announce genuine results may lead to sanctions on several army generals, including the Chief of Army Staff and his top 16 officers, along with members of PMLN, MQM, and other relevant parties, including Nawaz Sharif and his associates. Additionally, the Election Commission of Pakistan can expect severe repercussions from the European Uinion and its allied nations.”
Numerous political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) contested the elections, whereas another major one, former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was unable to after the cricket bat — its electoral symbol, which symbolises Khan’s past as a cricketer — became a bone of contention and was taken away (archive) through a Supreme Court ruling on 13 January.
The pre-poll political landscape in Pakistan was characterised by distinct circumstances for the PTI founder and his main rival, PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif, amid the shadow of alleged military interference. Khan, incarcerated since 5 August 2023, was consequently disqualified from contesting elections.
2024 elections
Despite being jailed (archive) for a total of 31 years for corruption, leaking state secrets, and a marriage that was ruled un-Islamic, Khan declared (archive) victory in a speech generated by artificial intelligence (AI), as 93 of the 264 seats were secured by his independent candidates, according to Reuters (archive). The party of his main opponent, PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif, got 75 seats, with the former premier, too, claiming that he won.
Former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was able to secure 54 seats while the MQM-P bagged 17 seats.
The PTI cried foul (archive) as the results of 18 seats “allegedly won by the party were ‘falsely changed’” and called upon its supporters to protest wherever they are in the world.
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check found the original statement issued by the Council of the European Union, published on 9 February 2024, on its website here (archive).
Titled “Pakistan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the general elections,” it praises the country for conducting elections and “welcomes the increased number of women registered to vote”.
Acknowledging the postponement of and uncertainty amid the 2024 general elections, it takes note of a “tense security environment” and regrets “the lack of a level playing field due to the inability of some political actors to contest the elections, restrictions to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression both online and offline, restrictions of access to the internet, as well as allegations of severe interference in the electoral process, including arrests of political activists”.
The EU statement also states that Pakistan must “ensure a timely and full investigation of all reported election irregularities”, asserting that the country implement “the recommendations of the upcoming EU Election Expert Mission report”. While urging “peaceful and democratic mechanisms to settle differences”, it goes on to ask the Government of Pakistan to continue working on “the priorities agreed in the EU-Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan”.
However, there are no phrases in the EU statement that says, “If there are any irregularities in the election outcome, it’s evident that the Pakistani populace has overwhelmingly supported PTI, indicating their victory”.
It also does not threaten to impose any possible “sanctions on several army generals, including the Chief of Army Staff and his top 16 officers, along with members of PMLN, MQM, and other relevant parties, including Nawaz Sharif and his associates”.
The following warning, “Additionally, the Election Commission of Pakistan can expect severe repercussions from the European Uinion and its allied nations,” also does not appear in the said statement.
The misspelt word “Uinion” visibly sets the paragraph apart from the rest of the statement, indicating that it was added separately to the viral screenshot.
The original statement posted by the EU Council Press, European External Action Service (EEAS), and the Norwegian foreign ministry on X (formerly Twitter) here, here, and here (archived here, here, and here), respectively, does not contain the additional paragraph found in the viral screenshot.
The X account of the EU delegation in Pakistan acknowledged (archive) the viral message, stating, “We are aware that a fake version of the EU statement on general elections is being circulated and misused.”
We are aware that a fake version of the EU statement on general elections is being circulated and misused. Here is a link to the correct statement 👇https://t.co/C7uyhT8Z5T
— EUPakistan (@EUPakistan) February 16, 2024
Soch Fact Check also reached out to the EU’s press office, where an official confirmed that the screenshot “is fictitious” and the suspicious paragraph has “never been included in the statement”. Only this version is the official one, they added.
Virality
Soch Fact Check observed that the WhatsApp message was marked as “Forwarded many times”, indicating that it has gone significantly viral in Pakistan at least.
The claim was also shared on the Pakistan Defence forum — which has spread false and misleading information in the past as well — here (archive).
The screenshot was also posted here, here, here, here, and here.
Conclusion: The original statement issued by the EU praises Pakistan for conducting elections, regrets the lack of a level playing field”, urges investigation of “allegations of severe interference in the electoral process”, stresses upon the use of “peaceful and democratic mechanisms to settle differences”, and asks the country to continue working on EU-Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan. It neither mentions any sanctions nor threatens repercussions.
Background image in cover photo: European Union Consilium Newsroom
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