PM Imran Khan congratulates Uzbek president on ‘impressive’ election victory

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday congratulated Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev for his “impressive victory” in the Uzbekistan’s presidential elections.

“Heartiest congratulations to my friend President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on impressive victory in presidential elections. People of brotherly Uzbekistan have again reposed their trust in his able leadership. I look forward to continued productive engagement between Pakistan and Uzbekistan”, tweeted PM Imran Khan.

Heartiest congratulations to my friend President Shavkat Mirziyoyev @president_uz on impressive victory in Presidential elections. People of brotherly Uzbekistan have again reposed their trust in his able ldrshp. I look forward to continued productive engagement between 🇵🇰 & 🇺🇿.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 25, 2021

Uzbekistan leader scores easy win in vote marred by ‘irregularities’

President Mirziyoyev cruised to victory on Monday in an election monitors ruled was “not truly competitive” despite some reforms in the authoritarian Central Asian state.

The vote Sunday saw no real opposition candidates challenge Mirziyoyev, who came to power in 2016 after the death of his mentor, dictator Islam Karimov, who ruled Uzbekistan for 27 years.

The Central Election Commission said Mirziyoyev had taken 80.1 per cent of the vote, according to a preliminary count.

He has been credited with launching what he calls “New Uzbekistan” by ending a decades-old system of forced labour with roots in the former Soviet Union and introducing limited media freedoms.

Nevertheless, he has continued to publicly praise Karimov, whom he served for 13 years as prime minister after stints in charge of provincial administrations.

Making a tightly controlled appearance at the Humo sports arena in Tashkent after results were announced, Mirziyoyev said “Uzbekistan will only go forwards!”

But like Karimov, the new leader has sidestepped political reforms that would allow any alternative to his rule.