Pak delegation completes study visit to Indonesia

ISLAMABAD: An eight-member Pakistani delegation, facilitated by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development & Transparency (Pildat) and led by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed here Friday, completed the study visit to Indonesia that was started on July 17. According to Pildat the purpose of this study visit was to seek a deeper understanding of democratic consolidation in Indonesia just as Pakistan has begun its own longest uninterrupted spell of democratic governance in 2017.

During the visit, delegates met JakobTobing, who played an instrumental role in new democratic Indonesia’s transition from the authoritarian rule to democracy in 1998. Tobing gave an introduction to the making of the original 1945 constitution while highlighting the reform process and its outcomes which included a constitutional democracy. 

Delegates also met Gen (r) Ryamizard Ryacudu, Indonesian Minister for Defence; Gen (r) Wiranto, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, and Dr Fadhli Zon, Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives (Indonesian Parliament).

General (r)Wiranto especially briefed the delegates on functions of the Coordinating Ministry, especially in coordination and synchronisation of the formulation, determination and implementation of policies related to issues of politics, law and security in Indonesia. Defence Minister of Indonesia, Gen (r) Ryamizard Ryacudu shared Indonesia’s policies to combat terrorism. Dr Fadhli Zon, Vice Speaker briefed the Pakistan delegates on the key features of parliament, election process and constituency politics in Indonesia.

In meeting with members of Commission-1 of the House of Representatives, members of the commission briefed the delegates on the role of oversight of defence, foreign affairs and information.

During the Visit, delegation also called on Vice President of Indonesia Muhammad Jusuf Kalla at Merdeka Palace, Jakarta. Vice President highlighted the strengths of relations between Indonesia and Pakistan and the role two countries can play in addressing challenges faced by the Muslim countries. Furthermore, Meidyatama, President of the Antara News Agency, shared Indonesian media’s perspective on state of civil military relations and democratic consolidation in Indonesia.

The delegation also visited the Habibie Centre, a leading think tank that works on democracy and human rights in Indonesia, where it received a briefing on state of democracy in Indonesia.

During the last day, delegates met Prabowo Subianto, Chairman, Gerindra Party (the 3rd largest party in Indonesian Parliament) at their headquarters, where a presentation was delivered to the Pakistan delegation at the party headquarters on the structure and functions of the party and its action.