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Fifth Session Roundup of Youth Parliament of Pakistan
August 05, 2009 - August 09, 2009

Background of the Youth Parliament

Youth Parliament Pakistan (YPP) has been conceived and initiated by PILDAT (Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency), a research and training institute focused on strengthening democracy and democratic institutions. The YPP functions like mock parliament of Pakistan providing its members (MYPs) a chance to undergo a parliamentary experience while also preparing the next generation for a career in parliamentary politics of the country. The Youth Parliament Pakistan, which has 60 members from all over the country aged between 18 and 29, is a platform for the young to face the pressure of adversarial politics and discuss issues of concern, work on analytical skills, refine their etiquette of articulation and thus undergo a process of political growth. PILDAT believes that such an exercise would provide the youth an opportunity of political evolution and will thus pave way for good governance.

The idea behind Youth Parliament is to inculcate in youth the values and culture of democracy as central to effective governance in any society. The Youth Parliament has been designed to demonstrate to youth how Parliament is able to make legislation; to debate matters of national and international concern; to demand accountability from those in government; to change government without recourse to civil disorder; and to make and enforce their own rules of conduct, practice and behavior. The Youth Parliament project is supported by the British High Commission while Geo Television is Media Partners with the Youth Parliament Pakistan.

Establishment and facilitation of the Youth Parliament is part of PILDAT’s focus on Youth in the country and Youth’s awareness education and training in the norms of politics and democracy. The membership of Youth Parliament has been selected from across Pakistan through an intensive evaluation and interview process by an independent steering committee including MPs, former Speakers, representative of Ministry of Youth Affairs and PILDAT. The membership reflects number of seats according to regional proportion on population basis as is the practice in the National Assembly of Pakistan. No educational qualification criterion was set for seeking membership. Instead, the only requirement included the capacity to read, write and speak Urdu so as not to discriminate against a large population of youth of Pakistan on the basis of education and not to let the Youth Parliament become a forum for the elite.

Fifth Session

August 05, 2009 – August 09, 2009

The fifth session of the Youth Parliament Pakistan was scheduled from Wednesday August 05 to Sunday August 09, 2009. This was the last session for the second Youth Parliament. The session was presided over by Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, Former Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan and an esteemed member of the Youth Parliament Steering Committee. The parliament discussed: Pakistan’s Relations with India and Afghanistan, How the British Parliament works, and Culture in Pakistan. In addition to this the incident of Gojra was discussed, issue of Northern areas autonomy was also the highlighted of the session.

In the Session of Youth Parliament, Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly introduced the little Pakistani Cyber Kid, Babar Iqbal who made a world record in the field of IT as Youngest Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) at the age of 12.  

Youth Parliamentarians also visited the National Assembly and witnessed the proceedings of the house, where they were highly appreciate by the MNA’s and other political personalities in the National Assembly.

To discuss Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan and India Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister for Pakistan was invited. While discussing the relations he said that the world is now appreciating and following Pakistan stance of negotiations, and that Pakistan has always favored dialogues not war in the region. He said that Sharm El Sheikh Declaration is also a success in the relations. While talking about Afghanistan he said that peace in Afghanistan is in favor of Pakistan and a peaceful Afghanistan will bring a lot of trade n stability in the region. Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham, Life Peer, House of Lords, UK addressed the Youth Parliament in the fifth session. He said, while talking on the Kashmir issue that Pakistani Governments are failed to convince the International communities at the Principal stand on the Kashmir dispute and the US dictated policy on the Kashmir issue is being followed by the Pakistani Government He further added that the role played by the Governments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir is also questionable.  During the question answer session he showed his commitment to file a petition against Gen (Retd) Musharraf in UK and the evidences and proofs are being compiled to make the case stronger.

Youth Parliament Pakistan in this session was honoured to meet the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Makhdoom Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, he appreciated the concept of the Youth Parliament and said to the MYPs that they have the luxury today to work within mock political parties in the Youth Parliament he further urged the Youth Parliamentarians to join political parties of their choice tomorrow armed with specialisation that the parties require.

On the same day Youth Parliament met the President of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, the Young Parliamentarians were termed ‘future leaders of Pakistan’ by the President. In a meeting with the President, young members from across Pakistan put a range of questions from upcoming water crisis to the energy issue, Pakistan’s dependence on foreign aid, abolition of the concurrent list from the 1973 constitution and the issue of Balochistan to the President. The President, who very deftly and ably answered questions of the youth members, said that he was glad that youth was thinking about key issues for the present and the future.

There was a certificate distribution ceremony and farewell dinner for the members in Islamabad on the same day where they were awarded with the certificates by the Chief Guest of the evening Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly.

Mr. Orya Maqbool Jan, Director General, Sustainable Development of Walled City Lahore, addressed the Youth Parliament on the topic of Culture in Pakistan on the last day of the session. While talking on the topic of Cultural promotion to the Youth Parliament, he said that language plays a vital role in preservation and promotion of the culture and those Nations can never progress who don’t respect their language. He said that cultural heritage is a very valuable asset of Nation and Government should take proper care of it.

The Blue party was advised Dr. Donya Aziz, MNA and the co-party adviser was Ms. Tehmina Dasti (former MNA) while Green party was advised by Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, MNA and the co-party adviser was Ms. Anusha Rehman Khan, MNA.

In the visitors’ gallery sat Mr. Charlie Upton (Project Manager, British High Commission) and Mr. Kabir Sabar (member of Independent Steering Committee on the Youth Parliament Pakistan).

In the miscellaneous business the house discussed the incident of Gojra, division of provinces on basis of language, petroleum development levy ordinance, rehabilitation of IDPs, situation in Balochistan and issue regarding the use of energy resource to overcome the energy crisis going on in the country. 

(L to R) Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director PILDAT, Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly and Mr. Babar Iqbal, little Pakistani Cyber Kid are watching the proceedings of Youth Parliament Session

Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Yusuf Raza Gillani addressing members of Youth Parliament 2008-2009

MYPs share a light moment at the  farewell dinner as Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi and Executive Director PILDAT, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob look on

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