Islamabad, December 06: Youth Parliament Pakistan (YPP) held the first day of its concluding session here on Wednesday, December 05, 2007. The Youth Parliament, a 60-member assembly of 18-29 years old persons hailing from all the four provinces, Islamabad Capital Territory, FATA, FANA and Azad Kashmir, came into being in January 2007 facilitated by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency – PILDAT. The Youth Parliament has met for 25 days so far during 2007 in 6 sessions and has debated a number of policies of the Government of Pakistan, formulated and forwarded their alternative policies/recommendations to the Government and other entities. The Youth Parliament works on the pattern of the National Assembly of Pakistan and has a Youth Prime Minister, a Youth Cabinet, a Leader of the Opposition, a shadow cabinet and a Deputy Speaker.

The first sitting on the first day of the sixth session commenced with the oath-taking of two new members of the YPP, Mr. Muhammad Taha Anis YP09-ICT-04 and Ms. Rabia Mushtaq Kiyani YP27-PUNJAB09. Mr. Hammad Khan Marri, YP53-SINDH06 General Secretary and Acting Prime Minister commanded the confidence of the House and was ascertained as the new Leader of the House.

The Speaker Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jogezai administered oath to the newly ascertained Prime Minister. In his first speech after taking oath, the Leader of the House thanked all his supporters including the Leader of the Opposition for not contesting against his candidature.

On a motion moved by Leader of the House, Mr. Marri for debate on the draft Youth Manifesto 2007, prepared by the Members of the Youth Parliament and outlining the stand of the Youth Parliament Pakistan on various key issues facing Pakistani youth today the House witnessed animated debate and discussion on the issues included in the same.  A Manifesto Committee formed in consultation with the members will work on finalising the Youth Manifesto 2007 and presenting it to the House for voting and adoption over the next two days. The Youth Manifesto after its adoption will be launched, circulated among and lobbied with major political parties in Pakistan for inclusion in their Election Manifestoes and ultimately in their policy frameworks. To this end the members of Youth Parliament are expected to arrange a panel discussion with the chairs of the Manifesto Committees of key political parties in Pakistan. Earlier, the Business Advisory Committee of the YPP met and finalized the schedule of the on-going session.

Earlier in the session the House also condemned the arrest of MYPs Syed Ali Raza in Lahore and Liaquat Ali Shahwani in Quetta during a protest rally last month against the imposition of Emergency Rule in the country. The members welcomed the release of their fellow members after detention for many days.

Among other business of the House the members are expected to discuss the Imposition of Emergency Rule in Pakistan at their sitting tomorrow.

PILDAT – a dedicated non-partisan research and training institute committed to strengthening democracy and democratic institutions in Pakistan conceived the idea, facilitated the formation and now serves as the secretariat of Youth Parliament Pakistan. Mohammedmian Soomro, Chairman Senate as patron of Youth Parliament inaugurated the first session in January 2007. The Youth Parliament has been addressed by distinguished guest speakers including Rt. Honorable Mr. David Miliband, MP & Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, UK, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shaukat Aziz, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Mr. Nasir Khan, former Federal Minister for Health among many others.