DUSHANBE, December 3, 2009, Asia-Plus – Representatives of the Social-Democratic Party (SDPT) have not been invited the next session of the Public Council of Tajikistan that takes place in Dushanbe tomorrow, the SDPT deputy leader Shokirjon Hakimov told Asia-Plus today.
“Our party is not member of the Public Council; that is why they have not invited us to attend the session,” said Hakimov, “However, I think it is not correct and democratic.”
According to him, the upcoming parliamentary elections due in February 2010 are expected to be a major topic of the session that will be presided over by President Emomali Rahmon.
“It would be more correct to invite representatives of all eight political parties, officially registered in the country, to the session,” said Hakimov, “Other public associations and organizations that have been invited to the meeting will just make demands on time of political parties that intend to participate in the parliamentary election, because political parties do not always have an opportunity to discuss such an important issue as elections with the head of state.”
He added that members and supporters of the Social-Democratic Party hoped that the upcoming parliamentary elections would be transparent and democratic, “especially as President Rahmon has repeatedly mentioned this in his speeches.”
The Social-Democratic Party was originally registered in 199 as the Party of Justice and Development. Tajikistan”s Ministry of Justice requested that same year that the Supreme Court ban the party”s activities and its registration was canceled. The party re-emerged and was registered under its current name in December 2002. It now has some 3,500 members. The chairman of the party is Rahmatillo Zoirov.
The Public Council of Tajikistan comprises representatives of state bodies, political parties and civil society. Seven of eight officially registered political parties of the country are represented in the Public Council. The Public Council established the Social partnership Club, which brings together some 70 representatives of the Public Council to discuss and find consensus on pressing social issues.
