Joint action: Senate chairman elected head of Asian Assembly

Mushahid sees Bokhari’s election as an honour for Pakistan.


Peer Muhammad December 10, 2013
Syrian Peoples’ Assembly speaker Jihad Al Laham hands over the APA presidency to Senate Chairman Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari at the inauguration of 6th Plenary Session of Asian Parliamentary Assembly. PHOTO: APP

ISLAMABAD:


Some 220 parliamentarians from more than 30 Asian countries elected on Monday Senate Chairman Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari as head of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) for a two-year period. Bokhari was elected unopposed during the assembly’s sixth session.


The assembly is recognised as Asia’s largest forum for parliamentarians.

Several papers were presented at the session as parliamentarians shared success stories from their respective countries. They also urged joint action to achieve the APA’s objective of the‘Asian Century: Cooperation in Economy, Energy and Environment’.

Among the issues tackled were the global energy crisis, terrorism and economic challenges in the region.

The crunch question of Kashmir and Palestine was also raised at the meeting with speakers warning that there could be no peace in the region without its resolution.

Bokhari said that Pakistan’s vision of socio-economic improvement, sustainable development and regional peace and cooperation is impossible without the cooperation of others in the region.

“The 21st century is truly the Asian century as achieving global well-being will remain a distant reality without acknowledging the importance of Asia’s definitive role in world affairs,” said Bokhari.

He underscored the need for enhanced trade and investment integration as well as macroeconomic and financial cooperation to secure regional economic stability. APA nations must take the lead in creating an integrated Asian energy market and exploring renewable energy sources in order to provide cheap and clean energy to people and industries in the region, he added, saying development of Asia’s renewable energy resources is a crucial end goal of the continent’s energy strategy.

During the session, Syrian parliamentarians exchanged harsh words with delegates from some Arab countries over the allegation that Syria violates human rights by killing its own civilians in the country’s ongoing civil war. The delegates said Syrian civilians are being killed by terrorists, many of whom are sent to the country by various Arab states.

Iranian MP Dr Haddad Adel, a one-time president of the assembly, said that parliamentary diplomacy could create new opportunities for traditional diplomacy, and could provide the means for exchanging experience in culture and political cooperation. He said strengthening the relationship between MPs in Asia enables APA members to better understand each other while introducing initiatives to face global and regional challenges.

Adel, however, warned that occupation, war and intensifying sectarian-motivated violence could undermine the culture and economic capacity of countries and could lead to dependency on other countries.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2013.

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