On March 23, the Islamic Cultural Center of the capital hosted a solemn Iftar in honor of the holy month of Ramadan and the Day of Pakistan. This event became a meeting place for Pakistani citizens living in Ukraine, as well as other distinguished guests.
The event began with a traditional prayer, after which the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Major General (Retired) Nadir Khan delivered a speech in which he quoted the main points from the address to the Pakistani nation by the President of the Republic Asif Ali Zardari.
In his address, the President of Pakistan emphasized the importance of the historic “Pakistan Resolution” of 1940, which marked the beginning of the formation of an independent state. He recalled the tireless efforts and sacrifices of the ancestors for the sake of freedom and emphasized the importance of unity and joint efforts in overcoming current challenges such as inflation, unemployment and terrorism.
Emphasizing his commitment to democratic values and economic recovery, the President also called on citizens to unite for a future “full of peace, progress and stability.”
“Let us work for a Pakistan that is united around common values,” he emphasized, calling for a state where there are no differences but unity.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan recognized Ukraine’s independence on December 31, 1991. On March 16, 1992, diplomatic relations between Ukraine and Pakistan were established. The Embassy of Pakistan has been operating in Kyiv since October 1997.
Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/UkrDiplomatic
The results of last Thursday’s parliamentary elections in Pakistan have been summarized, with independent candidates, mostly affiliated with the party of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is serving a prison term, taking first place, Al Jazeera reports.
According to the Central Election Commission, out of 266 seats in the lower house of parliament (National Assembly) of Pakistan, 101 seats were won by independent candidates, 96 of them supported by the right-wing centrist party, the Justice Movement, founded by former Prime Minister Khan. However, after a court found Khan guilty on a number of charges, the Supreme Court and the CEC ruled that Khan’s supporters could only run as independent candidates and were prohibited from using party symbols.
The second place went to the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Muslim League, with 75 seats. The third place went to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s center-left Pakistan People’s Party with 54 seats.
It took more than 60 hours to count the votes. None of the parties achieved the required majority of 169 seats to form a government on their own.
On Friday, Sharif said that despite his failure in the parliamentary elections, he would try to form a coalition government. He had previously rejected the possibility of a coalition with other parties.
For 2024 – 2029, 336 seats are available in the National Assembly of Pakistan. In the 2024 elections, the number of seats was 266. Another 70 seats in the lower house of parliament are reserved for women and minority representatives. These seats are distributed among all parties.
The elections were held against the backdrop of a difficult economic situation in the country, as well as tensions in the border regions.
Earlier, the Experts Club information and analytical project included the 2024 elections in Pakistan in the list of the TOP-10 most important elections of 2024 for the whole world, see the video for more details at https://youtu.be/73DB0GbJy4M?si=pMUPbHSYKI8YrDFR
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba held a telephone conversation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the parties agreed to hold the first ever meeting of the joint economic commission.
“The heads of Ukrainian and Pakistani diplomacy agreed to hold the first political consultations of the foreign ministries and the first ever meeting of the Joint Ukrainian-Pakistani Commission on Economic Cooperation,” the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on its website.
Kuleba also said that it was Ukrainian traders who exported the critically needed volume of grain, which compensated for two-thirds of the deficit during last year’s food crisis in Pakistan. Thus, the minister said that Ukraine is ready to increase export volumes, in particular, together with Pakistan, to develop trade with other countries in the region.
“The ministers expressed a common desire to significantly increase the number of Pakistani students coming to study in Ukraine. The parties exchanged invitations to make visits,” the ministry said in the statement.
DMYTRO KULEBA, ECONOMIC, ECONOMIC COMMISSION, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, PAKISTAN
2nd July 2021, marks 121st birth anniversary of Muhammad Asad. Не was bоrn as Leopold Weiss in Lviv Ukraine and rose to fame as а journalist, traveler, writer, linguist, political theorist, diplomat аn Islamic scholar and most importantly as а worker of Pakistan Movement.
During his life time Asad was known bу many titles, early in Аrаbiа he was called the “Leopold of Агаbiа, in likeness to ‘Lawerence of Агаbiа’. In Pakistan he was titled bу people as Allama (а scholar). Не is recognized as а religious bridge builder, а mediator between Islam and the West and Europe’s Gift to Islam.
Muhammad Asad, а writer and Islamic Scholar wrote his magnum opus “The Message of the Quran” (1980). Аn English translation and commentary of the Quran which he published after seventeen years of painstaking scholarly research. It is regarded as оnе of the most influential translations of the modern еrа. Earlier his autobiography “The Road to Месса” (1954) became а best seller. His other literary works include, Islam at Cross Roads (1934), Translation of Sahih AI Bukhari: The Early Years of Islam (1981 ), The Law of Ours and other Essays (1987) and Home Coming of the Heart which is regarded as part 11 of The Road to Месса’.
Lviv in early 1900’s was part of Austro-Hungarian Empire and was known as Galicia. Today it is befittingly recognized as the cultural capital of Ukraine. Leopold Weiss was bоrn in Lviv to а Jewish family and after his schooling he traveled to Middle East. Не converted to Islam in Аrаbia in 1926 and adopted the name Muhammad Asad. Indeed he had taken the Road to Месса very early in his life.
In early 1930’s Asad travelled to Sub Continent where met Allama lqbal, а world renowned islamic philosopher and thinker who envisioned Pakistan as home for Muslims of Sub Continent. Allama Iqbal asked him to elucidate the intellectual premises of the future Islamic state and help achieve it as well. His book ‘The Principles of State and Government in Islam’ (1961) describes а democratic political system which is grounded in Islamic principles.
Allama Iqbal also encouraged Asad to translate Sahih AI-Bukhari in English for the first time in history. Asad in order to find а serene place to stimulate his intellectual and spiritual thought, travelled to Kashmir during the summer of 1934. There he became friends with Mirwaiz Muhammad Yusuf. While working enthusiastically оn his translation, he also set up а printing press in Srinagar. First two chapters of his translation were printed in Srinagar. Asad in his book Home-coming of the Heart mentions about his special relationship with Kashmir.
During WWII Asad was imprisoned bу the British but after this, he continued to work as а dedicated worker of Pakistan Movement. Оn creation of Pakistan оп 14 August 1947 he adopted Pakistan as his home and was honoured with citizenship of Pakistan. Не was first appointed Director of Department of Islamic Reconstruction and then he joined Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan where he served as deputy secretary to Middle East and then Pakistan’s Envoy to United Nations. Asad Platz in UN Square Vienna is dedicated to honour is services. Оn 23 March 2013 Pakistan Post issued а postage stamp under the ‘Меn of Letters’ series to recognize his literary works and Islamic Culture Centre has dedicated centre in Lviv in his name.
То inform people of Pakistan and Ukraine about the numerous contributions of Muhammad Asad, Pakistan Embassy in coordination with Islamic Centre Kyiv will launch Ukrainian translation of his book ‘Тhе Unromantic Orient’ during Kyiv book festival. In concert with State Administrator we will initiate work to place а plaque at his birth place, erect his bust at а suitable location and nаmе а location in Lviv and Kyiv after Muhammad Asad. The Embassy in coordination with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ukraine plans to hold а reference event in Kyiv and has approached National Book Foundation Pakistan to furnish а complete set of publications of Muhammad Asad for placing in the libraries in Ukraine. We have also invited the universities in Ukraine and Pakistan to sponsor joint research to document Asad’s numerous accomplishments and most importantly to explore his ideas as аn Islamic Scholar for benefit of humanity. Muhammad Asad continues to act as а bridge between Islam and Europe and most importantly between Pakistan and Ukraine. Its because of Muhammad Asad that Ukraine саn claim that it effectively contributed towards making of Pakistan.
Ambassador
Dr Noel I. Khokhar
