The Foreign Office has said it is “surprised by the negative tone of some” of the statements made by certain countries and organisations on the general elections.

In a press release, the FO said the statements neither took “into account the complexity of the electoral process nor acknowledged the free and enthusiastic exercise of the right to vote by tens of millions of Pakistanis”.

“These statements ignore the undeniable fact that Pakistan has held general elections, peacefully and successfully, while dealing with serious security threats resulting primarily from foreign-sponsored terrorism,” it added.