Moscow, 27 September 2026(Nosheen): A Pakistani parliamentary delegation visited Russia as international observers to monitor the elections held on the 18th, 19th and 20th. The main purpose of the visit was to observe the electoral process, polling arrangements, administrative procedures and the overall voting environment.
The Pakistani delegation included Ahmed Aslam, Adviser to the Chairman of the Senate, Senator Jan Muhammad Buledi and Senator Mansoor Ahmed Kakar.
During their visit, the delegation observed different stages of the electoral process. They reviewed how polling was being conducted, the arrangements at polling stations and whether voters were provided with an appropriate environment to exercise their right to vote.
The delegation also observed whether voters or candidates faced any pressure or interference and whether the polling process was being conducted according to the established procedures.
The visit provided the Pakistani observers an opportunity to understand the electoral process at the ground level and observe its various aspects directly.
During the visit, the Pakistani delegation also met Russian Senator Ivan Novikov. The meeting focused on parliamentary affairs, democratic institutions, relations between legislative bodies and opportunities to further strengthen parliamentary cooperation between Pakistan and Russia.
The importance of parliamentary diplomacy and stronger contacts between the two countries’ legislative institutions was also discussed.
On the occasion, Ahmed Aslam, Adviser to the Chairman of the Senate, and Senator Mansoor Ahmed Kakar invited the Russian senator to visit Pakistan. They said he would be warmly welcomed in Pakistan for a visit in his personal or international capacity.
Later, the Pakistani Ambassador hosted a dinner in honour of the parliamentary delegation. Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, and Sikandar Sultan Raja, Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan, along with other dignitaries, attended the dinner.
The participants discussed electoral and democratic processes, the role of parliamentary institutions, institutional cooperation and other matters of mutual interest.
The visit of the Pakistani delegation was significant both for observing the electoral process and for promoting parliamentary diplomacy between Pakistan and Russia.
The delegation’s main mandate was to observe the elections held on the 18th, 19th and 20th, with a focus on polling procedures, election arrangements, transparency, fairness and the treatment of voters and candidates.
Any final assessment of the electoral process, however, will depend on the formal observations and report of the international election observers.