Islamabad, December 09: The First Youth Parliament Pakistan (YPP) concluded here on Sunday December 09, 2007 after a 5 day sitting held from December 05-09, 2007. The Youth Parliament, a 60-member assembly of 18-29 years old persons hailing from across Pakistan, came into being in January 2007 and Mr. Mohammedmian Soomro, Chairman Senate as patron of Youth Parliament inaugurated the first session on January 25, 2007. The Youth Parliament Pakistan facilitated by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency – PILDAT met for 30 days at six sessions held from January to December, 2007 at Islamabad.

Addressing the Members of the Youth Parliament at the Closing Ceremony Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali, Acting Chairman, Senate of Pakistan said that the youth are the future of the country and the future is in their hands. He advised them to come forward and take part in the political and democratic process in the country and to keep in mind the humane factor which he stressed was very important in order to succeed as a politician. He was of the view that politics  was the last refuge of leaders. He stressed that the future of Pakistan rests on the issue of Provincial Autonomy and the smaller provinces have to be given more resources and power in order for Pakistan to progress as a democratic nation. Later Mr. Jamali distributed Certificates to the Members of the Youth Parliament and engaged with them in an interactive discussion. The Prime Minister, Mr. Hammad Khan Marri and Leader of the Opposition Ms. Mariam Raza Zaidi presented to Mr. Jamali  a copy of the Youth Manifesto 2007 launched on Friday December 07, 2007 by the Youth Parliament highlighting the priorities of the young people and mindful of the responsibilities of the youth to participate in the future of their country.

In his welcome address Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director, PILDAT thanked Mr. Jamali for taking the time to be at the Closing Ceremony and thanked the Senate Secretariat for their continuous support and cooperation throughout the one year term of the YPP. He stated that the Youth Parliament initiated as a pilot programme had been extremely successful in achieving its objectives of providing a forum where young people can engage in healthy discourse and become more active democratic citizens and develop leadership skills, either within or outside formal politics. He said that based on success of this first term of YPP future terms will be held each year so that more youth are given the opportunity to “learn by doing” on the benches of a mock Parliament. Mr. Mehboob said that the Youth Parliament Alumni Association, elections to which were held at the concluding session will now act as mentoring body for future MYPs and take the experience gained throughout this year forward and serve as a forum for promoting youth’s involvement in the political and democratic process in the country. Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, Former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Member of the steering Committee Youth Parliament, Mr. Henning Effner, Resident Representative, Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Ms. Sarah Parvez, British High Commission, Islamabad also addressed the Closing Ceremony.

During its life the Youth Parliament took up a number of resolutions, calling attention notices and questions deliberating upon important national issues of concern to Pakistani youth and to strengthening of parliamentary democracy in the country.  The Members of the Youth Parliament or MYPs debated on 22 motions relating to burning topics such as issues related to Federalism and Provincial Autonomy, National Finance Commission Award, Youth Policy, State of Education, Issues defining Pakistan’s Foreign Policy The State of Democracy, Free and Fair Elections, Hazards of Smoking, Challenges of Eradicating Bonded Labour, Emergency Rule, and Vision for Pakistan. A total of 35 Resolutions and 7 Calling Attention Notices were brought to the attention of the House. The Youth Parliament also formulated policies and proposals for Provincial Autonomy, National Finance Commission Award, State of Education, Youth Charter of Democracy to the Government of Pakistan, formulated and forwarded these to the related Government of Pakistan Ministries and Departments for consideration and  inclusion in their policies and plans.

Earlier on Saturday December 08, 2007 Mr. Syed Talat Husain, Director News and Current Affairs addressed the Members on the current political situation in the country.  Giving a media angle to the political issues and rejecting the three myths relating to the current political situation in the country, he said these only diverted the focus of the people from the reality. The first myth that Pakistan is passing from partial democracy to a full democracy was not true as there is no transition to democracy taking place. Myth number two that Pakistan does not deserve democracy is again misleading as this does not reflect the true state of the nation. He was of the view that democracy can work if it is allowed to do so.  Finally myth number three that this country is unique and so we have to have a novel system focusing on a strong centre and led by Military leaders has no reality. He concluded that the people of Pakistan have to own the concept of Democracy and come out forcefully to voice and manifest their views.  There was no substitute for Democracy, it is not a fast food experience, Pakistan does not have to discard the idea as it does work but you have to wait for it. The only way to fix the current situation is more democracy. Ending his remarks he said that a free media, independent judiciary, independent Election Commission, and free and fair elections are essential for the flourishing of genuine democracy.

Earlier on Thursday the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, His Excellency Mr. Robert Brinkley addressed the MYPs on his Vision for Pakistan. He reaffirmed the UK’s support for restoration of democracy and lifting of emergency in the run-up to the general election in Pakistan scheduled for January 08, 2008.

At the lat sitting on Sunday December 09, 2007 the House witnessed a fervent debate on suicide bombings and forcefully condemned the practice as being un-Islamic. A heated debate was also witnessed on a resolution moved by the Leader of the Opposition on the Boycott of the forthcoming General election in the country.  Some were of the view that the political parties should not boycott as that would give a free field to General Musharraf and the PML -Q to take power thereby damaging the democratic process. While others felt that political parties should boycott the elections as the elections were not going to be free and fair and it would be of not much use to contest  the elections, in particular in the absence of a genuine neutral caretaker set up.  Among other business of the House the “AIDS Prevention and Control Bill 2007: was passed by the House as well as “The Youth  Charter of Democracy”, “The State of Education Policy” and “Proposals for inclusion in the Draft Youth Policy 2006”.

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.