Accra:
Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed has called for Asia to adopt Nelson Mandela’s model of reconciliation, stressing that he presents a peaceful and democratic roadmap for divided societies, while reaffirming the long -standing ties of Pakistan with Africa.
Speaking during the very first summit of African political parties, organized by Ghana and assisted by more than 200 representatives of more than 40 African countries, Mushahid became one of the first Asians specially invited to address the historic rally.
He represented both his role as co -president of the International Conference for Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) and as president of Payar, Pakistan’s first reflection group on Africa.
During his visit as a guest of the Ghanaian government, he also met Vice-President Jane Naana, the chief of staff Julius Debrah and the Ebrahim Farah, among other African leaders.
In his speech, Mushahid underlined the support of Pakistan “coherent and in principle” to the struggles of African liberation, in particular those of Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Eritrea, Somalia, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
He also recalled the 1955 bandung conference, co-produced by Pakistan and organized by Indonesian President Sukarno, who laid the foundations for Afro-Asian solidarity.
Based on his long association with the continent, the senator mentioned his multiple visits to countries such as South Africa, Rwanda, Angola, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia and remembered the Minister of the State of Nelson Mandela during the 1999 state visit.
Presenting Payar (Pakistani-Africa Institute for Development and Research), he described it as the main non-governmental platform in Pakistan to promote links with Africa.
Organizing the “Mandela model” of peace and reconciliation as a relevant model for Asia, he underlined his three key components: first, Mandela’s belief in a policy of generosity rooted in a “forgiveness-and-child” approach; Second, the rejection of “revenge, vendetta and victimization”; And third, inclusive democratic governance and respect for the public service as a “popular trust”, demonstrated by Mandela’s voluntary exit after completing an elected mandate.
Mushahid also praised Mandela’s support for the struggles of the people of occupied Palestine and the occupied cashmere, describing him as a “statesman in principle”.
He described the current era of “the century of the resurgence of the world South, encompassing Asia, Africa and Latin America, and paid tribute to the founding leader of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah, which he called an architect of non-alignment and the champion of the Pan-African unit, depositing a crown in Nkrumah of the Nkrumah mausole.
Mushahid assured African leaders that Pakistani-African ties would deepen in fields such as diplomacy, trade and investment, education, IT, minerals and critical minerals.
During his stay in Accra, he also addressed the Pakistani community during a Pakistan event and met representatives of African reflection groups, media personalities and business leaders.
