Election To Further Strengthen Democratic Process In Iran: Analyst

Islamabad, May 28, IRNA – A senior Pakistani analyst on Monday said that upcoming presidential elections in Iran would further strengthen democratic process in the Islamic Republic. Talking to IRNA, Lieutenant General (retd) Abdul Qayyum lauded the transparency of the Iranian electoral process. He said that it is very encouraging to see that governments are changed in Iran through democratic process. “This is also very good for Pakistan,” he viewed. “Iran is our neighbor and close friend and it would be correct to say that Iran is strength of Pakistan,” said the analyst. He viewed that any good development in Iran would have positive impacts on Pakistan. He added that it is right of the people of Iran to elect their president. “We are happy that democracy is flourishing in Iran,” said the intellectual. Abdul Qayyum expressing his views said that Iran is the only Muslim country where the elections take place on time. He said who so ever is elected president by the people of Iran will be welcomed by the people and the leadership of Pakistan. The analyst said that Pakistan and Iran should complete Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project as early as possible despite the change of governments. “Iran can help Pakistan to overcome its energy crisis,” he strongly believed. He went on to say that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a brave leader and has always stood up for the rights of Muslim Ummah. Abdul Qayyum was confident that the next government of Iran would also work for the betterment of Muslim Ummah and continue its efforts to unite the Muslim world. He said that Islam is not only a religion but a complete code of life. The intellectual was of the view that Iran is the best example of Islamic democracy. “Islam is being practiced in Iran in its true form,” he said. The analyst added that politics and religion are interlinked. “There is no place for secularism or extremism in Islam,” he said. Lieutenant General Abdul Qayyum is a retired 3 star general of Pakistan Army. He appears frequently in television talk shows and is a well-known critic of American foreign policies pertaining to Pakistan. /end