NEW YORK – Pakistan has called for comprehensive, democratic and equitable reform of the UN Security Council, stressing that the misuse of veto power undermines the Council’s effectiveness, weakens the credibility of the United Nations, and perpetuates inequalities within the international system.
Speaking at the General Assembly debate on the use of the veto, Gul Qaiser Sarwani, Counsellor/Political Coordinator at the Pakistan Mission to the UN, stated that strategic rivalries and narrow interests among the Council’s permanent members had repeatedly impeded collective action on international peace and security.
He underscored the unique legitimacy of the General Assembly, whose universal membership and democratic decision-making enable it to respond when the Security Council is unable to act, including due to the exercise of the veto.
The Pakistani delegate cautioned that adding more permanent members and extending veto privileges would deepen existing inequalities, perpetuate historical advantages and increase the risk of Council paralysis.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s principled position alongside the Uniting for Consensus (UfC) group, Gul Qaiser Sarwani opposed the creation of any new permanent seats in an expanded Security Council.
On proposals to regulate the use of the veto, he stated that Pakistan favoured its abolition or, at a minimum, severe restrictions on its use, emphasizing that the veto must not be expanded. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for General Assembly resolution 76/262, which provides for a General Assembly debate following the exercise of a veto to promote greater accountability.
Sarwani stressed that any measures to restrain the veto must remain consistent with the UN Charter. He called for a balanced approach combining restrictions on veto use with enhanced representation and a stronger role for elected members of the Security Council, making its decision-making more democratic and providing an effective check on the exercise of veto power.
He further emphasized that the question of the veto must be addressed alongside the other four interrelated clusters under the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council reform, as part of a comprehensive reform package.
Concluding his remarks, Gul Qaiser Sarwani reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to reform that corrects existing imbalances, strengthens accountability and serves the collective interests of the entire UN membership rather than a select few.
“Reform for all. Privilege for None!” he emphasized.