Landmark polls: Pakistan congratulates Afghans on crucial vote

Pakistan also congratulates electoral institutions, which took the ‘key steps’ in ensuring successful polling.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has congratulated the ‘brotherly people’ of Afghanistan for turning up in millions and participating in the milestone elections despite security threats.

“We congratulate the brotherly people of Afghanistan on the milestone presidential and provincial council elections,” says a brief statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday.



It says the Afghan people braved the security threat and ‘inclement weather’ and turned up in millions to exercise their democratic right to choose the future leadership.

Pakistan also congratulates the Afghan electoral institutions, which took the ‘key steps’ in ensuring the successful completion of the electoral process.

“Like always, the people of Pakistan stand in strong solidarity with the Afghan nation at this historic moment,” it adds.

Former president Asif Ali Zardari has also felicitated the Afghan people on peaceful voting with a larger than expected turnout.

“On behalf of the Pakistan Peoples Party and on my own behalf I wish to felicitate the people, the government and the officials responsible for the polls in Afghanistan yesterday,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

He said he hoped the Saturday’s polls would be a watershed mark in the ‘elusive journey’ of the people of Afghanistan on the path to peaceful democratic transition.

Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman has said the effectiveness of Afghan elections is linked with Afghanistan’s internal political reconciliation.

“After this important elections, internal Afghan political reconciliation is the only way to ensure long term security and stability in the country underpinned by constitutionalism and economic development,” Fazl said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2014.