International Observer from Pakistan Finds Smooth Polling in Tashkent with Satisfaction of all Contesting Parties

Tazeen Akhtar / International Observer from Pakistan

Tashkent / Uzbekistan: 27 Oct 2024 – The international observers of election 2024 of Oliy Majlis and local / district councils visited different polling stations in Tashkent city and watched the process going on there. The polling stations have been set up at already known locations like Schools and other buildings where the people use to visit most often in their routine life.

Polling station 110 set up at 60 School for Mahalla 7 Ming O’Rik is one of such places where all people of this Mahalla can reach easily. This is a famous school of this vicinity. The number of voters in this Mahallah is 2314. The director of the school, Ms Nekrasova Tatiana welcomed the international observers.

The second polling station that this scribe visited is number 107 for Mahallah Faranova and Mahallah At-Termeziy. The number of votes in these two Mahallas is 2014. It is again a famous place; a school were the head of the polling station Ms Xalmuxamedova Nargiza received the international observers and briefed them about the process.

This scribe met with the polling agents of contesting political parties that are; Liberal-democratic party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDeP); Milliy tiklanish (National revival) democratic party; Ecological party of Uzbekistan; People’s democratic party of Uzbekistan; Adolat (Justice) social-democratic party.

When this scribe reached to this polling station, the polling was on for last two hours. The polling agents of contesting parties were present there as local observers of the election process. The agents of all political parties were satisfied on the polling conducted till 11 PM. It was started at 8 PM.

The agents were questioned about anything unusual or wrong they have noticed. They responded that the polling is smooth so far and they are satisfied with the procedures and services being provided to the voters.

The voter lists with names, vote number and date of birth were posted on the boards at the entrance of the polling station prominently. As the elections are being held on single electronic voter list, the same is available in the desktops of the staff of the polling stations.

The voter will check his name and number and go to the next desk for registration where he/she can prove identity with any documents, national ID, Passport or Driving License. Thanks to digital election, this process does not take too much time and is completed in few minutes.

The voter receives 4 ballot papers; 1 for Oily Majlis, 1 for District Council, 1 for Local Council and 1 for Party vote as proportional vote. 75 out of 150 seats of Oliy Majlis are to be filled with proportional votes in which the citizens will cast their votes to the parties and parties will nominate their deputies according to a certain ratio of the secured votes.

Extensive Arrangements for Elections of Oliy Majlis and Local , District Councils in Uzbekistan

Secrecy of vote cast was managed well at both polling stations and there is no problem faced by anyone from any side. The voters are pouring in with families and their kids also accompanying their parents. Same has been shared by the senior representative of Central Election Commission, Mr. Baxrom KUCHKAROV in his press briefing at the election media center today.

It was impressive to note that large size posters with pictures and the details of the candidates are displayed at the polling stations. These posters describe every candidate about who he/she is, what is his career, background, manifesto, education, experience etc.

Women representation has been enhanced to 40% in all houses of elected deputies. This step by the government of Uzbekistan has been warmly welcomed by the women and is said to be a catalyst to transformation of the state into New Uzbekistan in a true manner.

The polling stations have been provided necessary security to deal with any untoward incident but no such thing has been reported from anywhere in the whole country.

{Tazeen Akhtar is Masters in Mass Communication from Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad. He is editor of newspapers in Islamabad for last 20 years. He is member standing committee of Council of Pakistan Newspapers Editors CPNE the only recognized org of editors by government in Pakistan. He has covered international conferences and events including previous parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.}