UNITED NATIONS: The UN General Assembly is convening today to elect five non-permanent members of the Security Council, with Pakistan and other contenders intensifying their lobbying efforts for a seat in the UN’s influential body.
The newly elected members will serve from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2026, succeeding Japan, Ecuador, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland, whose terms end this year.
As per the UN Charter, the Security Council’s primary role is to ensure international peace and security.
Pakistan, seeking its seventh term and endorsed by the 53-member Asian Group, faces no opposition for the Asian seat being vacated by Japan.
Pakistan’s previous terms on the Council were during 2012-13, 2003-04, 1993-94, 1983-84, 1976-77, 1968-69, and 1952-53.
The Security Council comprises 15 countries, with five permanent members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States — who possess veto power over any resolution or decision.
The 10 non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly, which includes all 193 UN Member States, with representation distributed geographically by region.
Voting is conducted by secret ballot, and candidates must secure a two-thirds majority, or 128 votes, even if running unopposed.
Should a candidate fail to achieve the required votes, re-polls are conducted until the necessary votes are obtained. In the event of a deadlock, compromise candidates may be introduced.
Led by Ambassador Munir Akram, the Pakistani delegation has been actively campaigning for months, in collaboration with the foreign ministry and Pakistani embassies worldwide, and expresses strong confidence in securing the seat.
If elected, Ambassador Akram stated, Pakistan will focus on promoting international peace and security and the peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes, adhering to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter.
In other contests, Somalia and Mauritius are competing for one African seat, Denmark and Greece for one Western European seat, while Panama is the sole candidate for the Latin American seat.