President Ilham Aliyev. PHOTO: REUTERS
After declaring the presidential election in Azerbaijan as ‘free and fair’, the Pakistani election observation mission on Thursday met the incumbent President Ilham Aliyev and congratulated him on his victory.
Aliyev claimed victory for a third consecutive term. The Azerbaijan’s president thanked the Pakistani delegation, comprising members of parliament belonging to six different political parties, for observing the elections. He reiterated his country’s support to Pakistan over Kashmir issue.
President Aliyev assured the team that he would personally look into ways for helping National Bank of Pakistan to open its branch in Baku. The Pakistani delegation had asked him for an exemption on mandatory security deposit of $50 million as requirement for opening the bank branch.
The president of Azerbaijan also agreed on expanding defence cooperation with Pakistan and also expressed Pakistan government’s wish to expand trade relations with Azerbaijan.
“We have a very special relationship with Pakistan and we are grateful for their continued support over the issue of Nagorno- Karabakh,” Aliyev told the delegation led by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed.
He acknowledged the fact that Pakistan was the third country to recognise Azerbaijan as an independent state.
Hussain conveyed his observation to the Aliyev that the elections were held in a “smooth, peaceful and transparent manner.”
Earlier in a press conference, the Pakistani observer mission declared Azerbaijan elections free and fair.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 11th, 2013.
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Who is to say they weren't paid to support this dictator who runs a police state. Is it constitutional for the same guy to run elections over and over again?
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said they had also documented widespread irregularities, including ballot-box stuffing and what appeared to be fraudulent counting. Maybe Pakistan's observers were the same guys who were used in Karachi?
".....President Aliyev assured the team that he would personally look into ways for helping National Bank of Pakistan to open its branch in Baku. The Pakistani delegation had asked him for an exemption on mandatory security deposit of $50 million as requirement for opening the bank branch...." Could we call them independent observers? They sound like they sponsored observers and now demanding their "fee" for the services!
Oh the irony