ISLAMABAD. (Parliament Times) : The observers from Pakistan including a Senator and General Secretary of International Parliaments Congress(IPC) former Senator have termed the Presidential Election in Republic of Uzbekistan as free, fair and transparent. The observers of previous elections in Uzbekistan have endorsed them in the light of their experiences in the past elections like Referendum 2023, Presidential Election Oct 2021 and others. They have welcomed the New Mandate of President after New Constitution and consider it promising for the future of UZB nation. The experts also termed it as good omen for bilateral cooperation as well as for connecting the regions for shared development.
They shared there experiences and observations in Tashkent, Samarkand and other cities about how smooth and independent were the election activities in the country while sharing their views in a discussion forum arranged by Mr. Tazeen Akhtar ,Editor “Pakistan in the World” International Magazine and Author, Columnist, Ms Afshan Malik who is also the Chairperson of Sindhu Welfare Trust a social welfare organization.
The speakers included Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, General Secretary IPC former Senator Ms Sitara Ayaaz, Former Ambassador Syed Ibrar Hussain, Chairperson Center of Pakistan and International Relations COPAIR , Aamna Malik, Former Chairperson National Commission on Rights of Child, Afshan Tehseen Bajwa, Tahir Farooq, President Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors KPK, Syed Safeer Hussain Shah Advocate, Editor Weekly Election Times & Legal Views, Ramazan Moghal of Baburi Forum, Syeda Sheharbano Kazim of Daily Dawn, Zubair Qureshy of Daily Pakistan Observer, Azhar Jatoi of Daily 92, Mohammad Shafiq of Daily Jehan Pakistan, Raja Adeel Bhatti of Daily Azkaar.
The forum was organized in Islamabad Club on two topics : 1- New Constitution of New Uzbekistan 2- Pakistan Uzbekistan on the way of Re-Connectivity. Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman and former Senator , General Secretary IPC Ms Sitara Ayaaz were among Pakistan observers in the Presidential Election 09 July 2023.
Editor Tazeen Akhtar , Editor Tahir Farooq, Editor Safeer Hussain Shah, Senior Journalist Zubair Qureshy, Chairperson COPAIR Aamna Malik are who have visited Tashkent, Samarkand as observers in previous Presidential Elections.
Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman and Ms Sitara Ayaaz monitored the Presidential Election latest on 09 July 2023. Both of them found the election very well administered with no untoward incident anywhere in whole country.
Ms Sitara Ayaaz shared , ” We visited many polling stations in Tashkent and Samarkand. We also exchanged information with our other members of the delegation from Pakistan. The polling process was seen according to rules and regulations with no disturbance from any side. We as International Parliamentary Congress will release a detailed report soon on the election.”
She appreciated the arrangements, the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan has made to conduct a free and fair election. She mentioned especially that the people who were not able to visit the polling stations were provided facility by mobile drop boxes. The polling staff visited their homes to make them cast their votes.
Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman noted, ” The public were enthusiastic to participate in the electoral process. The people of every age, males females and youth were found casting their votes at the polling stations. We watched 87 years old lady who was not able to walk but cast her vote on wheel chair. She voted for Mr. Shavkat and said that only he can bring prosperity for our nation and state.”
Former Ambassador of Pakistan Mr. Syed Ibrar Hussain also enlightened the participants with his experiences and observations regarding the transit connectivity through Afghanistan. He served as Consul General and Ambassador in Afghanistan for years. He termed Trilateral Train project as the game changer for not only the three countries but for the regions as well.
Ambassador, H.E Aybek Arif Usmanov, in his keynote address (Full text is being published separately) shed light on the constitutional reforms and Uzbekistan Pakistan Re-Connectivity including the flights, road linkages and the flagship project of Trilateral Train from Uzbekistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan.
He said, ” The New Constitution adopted this year in Uzbekistan reflects the changes and reforms implemented by Uzbek Government the check and and balances between public- state-Parliament. New structure of the government with effective, compact and public administration – 1) will be serving the people under the new disposition Human-Society-State; 2) will provide the political stability, strengthen the economic development, further strengthening of social protection of the nation; 3) will implement the cooperation with foreign partners, increase the internal and external integrity and region to region connectivity.”
Regarding Re-Connectivity , the Ambassador mentioned about the steps taken so far in road, rail, air linkages and his continued meetings with Pakistani authorities and ministers in Aviation, Industry, Commerce, Manpower, Education, Agriculture, Finance and Investment sectors. He expressed gratitude to the Pakistani officials and ministers for their consistent cooperation with him in his endeavors to enhance the bilateral ties.
Ambassador noted that thanks to re-connectivity efforts matured in last two years, in the first 5 months (January-May) of the last year and current year the bilateral trade has increased from $87 Million last year to $150 Million this year. Presently the overall trade volume in $250 Million that will be enhanced further in the coming months.
Here it is worth noting that the efforts being made from both sides are bringing the fruit now. The developments in air, road and rail connectivity and with the maturity of many measures taken in the previous few years clearly indicate that the volume of trade may further increase up to $400 Million in next few months or a year.
Editor Tazeen Akhtar updated the participants with respect to constitutional reforms , referendum 30 April and Presidential Election 09 July. He said, ” The world is changing and visionary leaders are transforming their nations and states according to the demands of new times like the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has proved it.”
He shared basic and general view of the bilateral connections and cooperation with specific references to the direct flights operations in near past, road connectivity through Afghanistan by the trade trucks of both countries and the flagship project of Trilateral Train Agreement. He also mentioned a famous love story “Sohni Maheenwal” in which the Maheenwal , Saeed Baig came from Uzbekistan to Gujrat city of the then Hindustan.
Dr Afshan Malik in her welcome note, admired the steps taken for the well being of the people of Uzbekistan by their leader. She wished the best for the government and people of sisterly state of Uzbekistan. She said ,” President Shavkat carries with him experience of decades in the governance and management side as the Prime Minister of the First President and later as President himself. He is the only leader who can take the nation to the destination of prosperous future.”
President of Baburi Forum in Pakistan, Mr. Ramazan Mughal discussed the prospects of cooperation in the heritage and culture side. He said the Mughal heritage in Pakistan can be a major attraction for the tourists from Uzbekistan to Pakistan. This will add to the mutual connections on reciprocal basis.
The speakers congratulated the Ambassador on successful transition of his nation and state from the preliminary phase of state building to the second phase of development and well being of the nation according to the new trends and demands of the new era. They expressed best wishes for the government and people of Republic of Uzbekistan.