ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said on Saturday that the destiny of Asia had to be decided by its leadership representing the Asian people.
The time has come for Asian hands to shape the future of Asia, he said in a briefing to journalists from Lahore held here about the 7th plenary of Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA).
It may be noted that the 7th Plenary of APA is going to be held in Lahore from December 1-3.
Senator Mushahid said the APA conference in Lahore would be unique in its nature. It would be the biggest international Parliamentary Conference in the history of Lahore.
The Senator briefed the journalists about the history and formation of APA telling them that the vision for APA was presented in Islamabad ten years ago in November 2004 when the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace (AAPP) decided to transform itself into Asian Parliamentary Assembly.
Now, again, Pakistan presented the vision to transform APA this a into an Asian Parliament, he said. Pakistan is President of APA for a two year term, which is held by Senate Chairman Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari.
Mushahid Hussain said the balance of economic as well as political power was shifting from West to East in this 'Asian Century'.
Pakistan, He said, was today playing a pivotal role of a bridge between South East Asia and West Asia. "Asia needs to discuss all the issues it faces, and this assembly will prove to be the right platform," he said.
He said Indian efforts to isolate Pakistan had failed, and today, Pakistan was being courted by China, Russia and the Unired States concurrently.
Senator Mushahid said that Pakistan was playing a leadership role in APA, leading with ideas, issues and initiatives.
He said nobody should think that foreign people don't want to come to Pakistan as dstinguished delegates from 25 countries are arriving here for the three-day conference.
The journalists were briefed about the Assembly, its structure, committees, special women Asian parliamentary forum and its agendas.
Mushahid also said, to the pleasure of journalists, that APA would also look forward to have a media forum for cooperation and exchanges among Asian journalists.
Answering questions about whether APA will be able to achieve its goals of regional cooperation, the chairman of the organizing committee said that SAARC was also put with same questions when it was established.
He said the Asian Parliament is a doable vision within our lifetime, after all, the European Parliament and the Pan African Parliament are a reality, and in the Asian Security, the prosperity of Asia depends on peace, coexistence and cooperation.
Additional Secretary Senate Dr. Pervaiz Abbas, Joint Secretary Administration Senate Maj. (R) Husnain Haider, Joint Secretary IPR Senate Arshad Jan Pathan and Rao Liaquat, DG, PID, were also present in the briefing.
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