Uzbek senator and poet Iqbol Mirzo (Iqboljon Mirzaliev) wrote an article on Xalq So’zi newspaper, implicitly criticizing Islam Karimov’s rule, while praising the reforms undertaken by the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The MP believes that for many years the Uzbeks settled for self-deception and were engaged in groundless self-laudation. According to him, Uzbekistan quarreled with its neighbors, turned friends into enemies, the education "reforms" made children semi-illiterate, public healthcare worsened and the freedom of speech was oppressed.

"As a result, we have a society in which the people care only about their own well-being, everyone has become indifferent ...", added Iqbol Mirzo, while welcoming the reform efforts of the president Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who said that “our greatest enemy is indifference. And now the battle began against indifference for the sake of future generations, the people and the prosperity of the homeland.”

In social networks, the public appreciated the poet's eloquence. In a Facebook group named Dialogue With The People, his article received over 300 comments. with people divided into those who agreed with the senator and those who accused him of hypocrisy, since it was Islam Karimov who in January 2010 appointed Iqbol Mirzo as the member of the Senate, during whose reign Mirzo came to prominence and Mirzo never bothered to criticize but only lauded Karimov’ policies when the latter was alive.

Iqboljon Mirzaliev, 50, is the chairman of the parliament’s committee on youth, culture and sports and the committee on regulations and ethics. In 2005, Iqbol Mirzo was awarded the title of People's Poet of Uzbekistan. For his services to the country he was awarded the Shukhrat (transl. Honour) medal and the Fidokorona Xizmatlar Uchun (Dedicated Service) order.