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| Fourth Session Summary | ||
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Fifth Session of the
Youth Parliament Pakistan 2008-2009 Concluded at Islamabad |
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The fifth and concluding session of the Youth Parliament Pakistan 2008-09 took place in Islamabad from August 5-9, 2009. This was the last session of the Second Youth Parliament. A certificate distribution ceremony was held on last night of the session and certificates were distributed to the MYPs for completing their successful term. In the concluding session Makhdoon Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Foreign Minister of Pakistan addressed the Youth Parliament on the topic of Pakistan’s Relations with Afghanistan and India. Lord Nazir Ahmad of Rotherham, Life Peer, House of Lords, UK discussed the British Parliamentary Practices and general issues of common interest and Mr. Orya Maqbool Jan, Director General Sustainable Development of Walled City, Lahore, addressed the Youth Parliament on the topic of Process of Cultural Process and impediments in its way. A Crisis Simulation Exercise was also the major component of the Youth Parliament Session in which apart from other experts, Ambassador (Retd) Arif Kamal, Director Global Studies, Institute of Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA), National Defence University–NDU acted as an observer. Mr. Rizwan Zeb, an Islamabad based Research Analyst conceived, coordinated and moderated the exercise. In the end the MYPs delivered presentations explaining their strategies over which the two gave their observation. Members of the MYPs to participate in the Crisis Simulation Exercise (CSE) were: Syed Waqas Ali Kausar YP01-AJK01, Mr. Rahim Bakhsh Kehtaraan YP07- BALOCHISTAN05, Mr. Ansar Hussain YP12-NA01, Ms. Sor Fabha Alvi YP14-NWFP02, Ms. Umm-e-Ammara Hikmat YP19-NWFP07, Mr. Yawar Hayat Shah YP22-PUNJAB03, Ms. Saadia Wuqar Un Nisa YP31-PUNJAB12, Mr. Asad Asghar Janjua YP37-PUNJAB18, Mr. Waqas Aslam Rana YP38-PUNJAB19, Syed Mohsin Raza YP56-SINDH08, Ms. Nabia Zafar YP 11-ICT 02, Mr. Farrukh Jadoon YP13- NWFP01, Mr. Zahid Ullah Wazir YP16- NWFP04, Syed Muhammad Nishat ul Hassan Kazmi YP20- PUNJAB01, Syed Waqar Ahmed YP25- PUNJAB06, Mr. Niaz Mustafa YP27- PUNJAB08, Mr. Muhammad Moin Akhtar YP30- PUNJAB11, Sher Afghan Malik YP44- PUNJAB25, Chaudhry Usman Ahmad YP41- PUNJAB22 and Mr. Aurangzeb Marri YP55-SINDH07. A Study Visit of selected Youth Parliament 2008-9 members to UK had also concluded on July 25, 2009 and the Youth Prime Minister tabled a report of the Study Visit and its learning in the House during the session. There was also a sharing of experiences among the Youth Parliamentarians First Sitting Business of the House began by the resolution that was presented by Ms. Hira Batool Rizvi (YP 15-NWFP03) to urge the Government of Pakistan to exercise its jurisdiction to examine the legitimacy of the Petroleum Development Levy Ordinance as it violated the rights of the citizens to life, liberty, safety and social justice. Youth Parliamentarians forced Government to stop adding difficulties and pressures on the people of Pakistan in the disguise of taxes. After debate the resolution was adopted by the house. The motion moved by Mr. Raheel Sher Khan Niazi (YP43-PUNJAB24) to discuss the Government’s strategy regarding the rehabilitation of IDPs focusing only on short term measures while not throwing any light on long-term steps. Youth Prime Minister referred that motion to the Youth Parliament Standing Committees of Economics, Planning Development and Defence. Mr. Muhammad Abdullah Zaidi (YP53-SINDH05) presented another motion in the house to discuss the two-nation theory and the ideological basis of Pakistan and the groundwork for the ethical case made for the creation of Pakistan. During the discussion Youth Parliamentarians stressed to look forward for the future destination rather than to debate on the past issues. Youth Prime Minister said, during his speech that Pakistan is created in the name of Islam where every minority should enjoy its complete religious freedom. There are, no doubt, loopholes in the system but Government is determined the overcome the deprivation of minorities. The Resolution jointly presented by Mr. Nishat ul Hassan Kazmi (YP20-Punjab01) and Mr. Mohsin Saeed (YP29-Punjab10) to condemn the recent violence in Gojra and asked the Government to highlight fact and personalities behind this tragic incident. Youth Parliament Pakistan has strongly deplored the Gojra incidents and demanded transparent investigations to expose the facts and the hidden faces. This resolution was unanimously approved by the house. All members were of the view that people involved in such brutal acts belong to no religion. 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. The house gave a warm welcome to the cyber kid. Visit to the National Assembly of Pakistan After the sitting the Youth Parliament delegation visited the National Assembly of Pakistan where the Acting Speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi gave them a briefing on the proceedings of the National Assembly. Second and third sitting On the second day the business of the House started by the resolution moved by Mr. Zameer Malik (YP50-SINDH02) and Mr. Asad Asghar Janjua (YP37-PUNJAB18) to reject any proposal of division of provinces especially Punjab on the basis of language and ethnicity. This resolution was rejected by the house and the Youth Parliamentarians supported the division of provinces on administrative basis to minimize the situation of anarchy in the country. The resolution presented by Mr. Sufian Ahmed Bajar (YP39-PUNJAB20) was adopted in the house, which discussed that Gen Musharraf should be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution for suspending the Constitution and overthrowing an elected government. This act would impede any future attempts to derail democracy in Pakistan. Youth Parliament Pakistan demanded that the Federal Government should invoke Article 6 against Gen Musharraf to usurp the Constitution and it should show its political will to initiate the trial against Gen Musharraf involving Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan. A calling attention notice was moved by Mr. Mohsin Saeed (YP29-PUNJAB10) to draw the attention of Honourable Youth Prime Minister to the foreign intervention in Balochistan and Swat region. While discussing the issue, Leader of the house, through the platform of Youth Parliament, made an appeal to the Government of Pakistan to develop a comprehensive policy to deal with the foreign interventions in all parts of the country. Another resolution was presented by Mr. Abdullah Zaidi (YP53-SINDH05) to extend the Military operation, started from Malakand, to Waziristan region and to negate the possibility of any negotiation with the militants. This resolution was rejected by the house with majority which favoured that door of the dialogue should always be open to every one. Ms. Hira Batool Rizvi (YP15-NWFP03) moved the resolution to study and use of alternate energy resource to alleviate the energy crises of Pakistan. After debate the resolution was unanimously adopted by the house. Leader of the House referred the motion about focusing on better training of law enforcement and civil defence forces to blunt the impact of terrorism in the country to the Youth Parliament Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence. The motion was moved by Mr. Waqar Ahmed (YP25-PUNJAB06) Mir Fahad Iqbal (YP61-SINDH13) presented the resolution that Government of Pakistan should cease the culture of nepotism in government departments. Members of Youth Parliament also criticized the huge size of the cabinet whose members are perceived to have failed to discharge their responsibilities. This resolution was adopted with majority by the house. Fourth and Fifth Sitting Mr. Mustafa Mumtaz (YP35-PUNJAB16) moved the resolution to take steps to make the International Community recognize Durand Line as an International Border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Members forced the Government to revise the diplomatic channels to make their point recognized internationally. This resolution was adopted by the house after a heavy debate. Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi addressed the Youth Parliament Pakistan in the 5th session on the topic “Relations with the Neighboring countries-India and Afghanistan”. He appreciated the Youth Parliament and said that it’s an excellent training ground for young leaders for their future roles as Parliamentarians. While talking about relations with India he said Pakistan seeks a relationship of equality based on mutual benefit and non-interference. He said composite dialogue is the only solution to issue between Pakistan and India. While talking about the Joint Declaration in Sherm-El-Sheikh he said the declaration recognizes that dialogue is the only way forward. Discussing relationship with Afghanistan he said an unstable Afghanistan is not in favor of Pakistan as we are tied with Afghanistan from every angle whether it’s strategic, security or trade. In the end he said that democracy is the only surety to secure a neighborhood where peace & prosperity prevail and where the focus is on the development of our people. He answered the questions of the Youth Parliamentarians on key issues regarding the Kashmir dispute, water conflict between India and Pakistan, Pak-Afghan relations, after effects of Mumbai attacks and the impacts of the Sherm-El-Sheikh Conference. Another resolution was moved by Mr. Samir Anwar Butt (YP10-ICT01) and Mr. Zameer Malik (YP50-SINDH02) that urged the Pakistani Government to use all diplomatic resources to pressurize India into following the water treaty as to avoid the water boarding being practiced by India. During the debate members admitted the failure of previous Pakistani Governments to make their position clear and strong in front of the International communities. Moreover members also emphasized to spread the awareness of proper utilization of water resources among masses. This resolution was adopted by the house after debate. In the session of Youth Parliament Mr. Waqqar Nayyar (YP05-BALOCHISTAN03), Chairman, Youth Parliament Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, presented the Committee’s recommendations report on the Foreign Policy. Report stated that our foreign policy should be more focused towards friendly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and Government should also involve in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan. The motion moved by Mr. Abdullah Leghari (YP48-PUNJAB29) to discuss the implications on the peace process and the diplomacy channels of the meeting at the Sherm El Sheikh conference, Egypt between Pakistan-India Premiers. Chairman, Youth Parliament Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs gave his statement about the motion that avenues to dialogue should be the best option to be adopted and the Sherm El Sheikh Conference is the good initiative for Pakistan’s perspective. Sixth and Seventh Sitting In the sixth sitting the first resolution moved by Mr. Ansar Hussain (YP12-NA01) pointing towards the democratic dispensation to immediately take concrete steps for granting constitutional recognition and provincial status to Northern Areas of Pakistan in compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision in AL-Jihad Trust case so as to bring the region out of the political limbo in which it has been entangled since its unconditional accession. Majority of the members agreed on the point that people of Northern Areas are deprived of their basic necessities and they deserve to enjoy their fundamentals rights and after debate this resolution was adopted by the house. Mr. Essam Rehmani (YP51-SINDH03) moved the resolution about the potential of Pakistani Youth that is not being utilized at optimum and the system is forcing them to leave the country and work abroad. Members urged the Government of Pakistan to develop more opportunities of jobs and employments so that brain drain dilemma can be stopped. Members of the house adopted the resolution after debate. There was also a debate generated on the resolution moved by Mr. Niaz Muhammad (YP-BALOCHISTAN02) that Board of Intermediate and Secondary education Quetta should not put a compulsion on young girls to give pictures on Admissions forms as Balochistan Tribes do not allow photographs of girls to be on forms, and due to this condition young female ratio of education will be decreased. During the debate many members gave alternate solutions to cater this issue so that the issue of women education and gender discrimination could be sorted out. The house rejected the resolution after debate. 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 Government is 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 Meeting the Prime Minister of Pakistan After the seventh sitting of the session the Youth Parliament delegation visited the Prime Minister House where Youth Parliament members interacted with Makhdoom Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, Prime Minister on a variety of issues including representation of Northern Areas into the National Assembly, state of implementation of education and health policies and FATA, etc. Welcoming the Youth Parliament members, Prime Minister Gillani said that he has both been a seasoned parliamentarian and a former Speaker and happy to address the Youth Parliament in both the capacities in addition to his office as Prime Minister. He termed health and education as the top priorities of his government and time will prove how victorious his government has been in these domains. Prime Minister Gillani asked the Youth Parliament Pakistan to develop innovative policies to tackle the crises of global recession, energy and terrorism. He asked them to develop their potential and specialise in areas where the country requires leadership. 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. Earlier Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan and member Youth Parliament Steering Committee spoke about the Youth Parliament at the meeting. Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director PILDAT introduced the Youth Parliament to the Prime Minister. Also present at the meeting were the Federal Minister of Youth Mr. Shahid Hussain Bhutto and Mr. Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, former Deputy Speaker National Assembly and member Steering Committee Youth Parliament. Meeting with the President of Pakistan On the same day the Youth Parliament delegation met the President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari. The President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari termed Youth Parliament as future Leaders of Pakistan 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. The Youth Prime Minister Mr. Ahmed Ali Babar congratulated the President on the huge achievement of the government to have managed the rehabilitation of IDPs in record time. He said that it was a gigantic task and as Pakistanis we are truly proud to have not only absorbed the displacement of such a huge number of people but have managed an unprecedented rehabilitation process for which the state and government of Pakistan truly deserve credit. President Zardari called the youth as the custodian of Pakistan’s future; He further said that they are promoting youth in their party; the youngest-ever Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly is from the PPPP. He said while addressing the delegation that his children are one with the youth of this country and will have to go through the greatest test of democracy when they have to go to ask for a vote He said while responding to a question about whether the Bhutto-Zardari children would be living in Pakistan and would like to join Youth Parliament that Bhutto gave the asset of vote to every person rich or poor in this country which is the true essence of democracy; asking people to vote for you is the greatest reality-check and the real beauty of democracy. Given the Bhutto family history of martyrdom in the line of political and democratic duty to the country, allowing your only son to take up the post of party’s co-chairperson needs a heart. He further added that having a 20-year old co-chairman of party also meant that the party was thinking of the future and investing greatly in the youth’s potential. Responding to questions on water scarcity and energy crisis he said that the PPP government was pursuing the water issue at the highest international levels as well as with our regional partners. The government is working on pilot projects to conserve water and propagate the water use judiciously to make the most of water resources available. The PPP government had shown the foresight back in 1988 to start power production through the private sector. “Keep an eye on us, but put your mind to rest,” he said to members of Youth Parliament about governmental policies on key issues. Talking about the Balochistan issue, he said that the PPP government is the first government that apologised to the people of Balochistan for the excesses committed to them in the past although we were not directly responsible. No fort can collapse with just the outside forces but crumbles first from inside, he said. We are therefore working on providing more and more resources to Balochistan before we can ask them for anything in return. Balochistan has been hurt too many times on the basis of promises alone and we will not just make promises. The issues will be resolved but that will not be done in a year, he said Certificate Distribution Ceremony Certificate Distribution ceremony was held on the last night of MYPs stay in Islamabad on August 08, 2009 in Monal Restaurant, Daman-e-Koh, Islamabad. The formal dinner was hosted by PILDAT where Certificates were distributed among the MYPs who have successfully completed their term of 2008-09 by Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan. Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob appreciated all the members of the Youth Parliament and acknowledged the contributions of the people involved in making the session successful. Youth Prime Minister, Youth Leader of Opposition and Youth Deputy Speaker gave note of thanks to the PILDAT. Certificate distribution ceremony was followed by Dinner and Musical program. Eighth Sitting In the last sitting business of the house started by the motion moved by Mr. Zameer Ahmed Malik (YP50-SINDH02) to discuss how the Pakistani culture got destroyed in recent years and what steps should be taken to revive the true Pakistani culture in its true spirit in Pakistan. Members of the house discussed the motion in detail in every aspect to pin point the root causes of the cultural impediments and the overwhelming effects of other cultures. Leader of the house, while addressing on this issue said that we should clear our all ambiguities regarding our cultures and traditions and we, as a Nation, should be proud of our culture, traditions and language. Mr. Orya Maqbool Jan, Director General, Sustainable Development of Walled City Lahore, addressed the Youth Parliament in the last day of the session. While talking on the topic of Culture language plays a vital role in preservation and promotion of the culture but unfortunately our nation has never understood the value of their language, Urdu has always been underestimated. He further said that to make our society strong and progressive we need to understand the bases of our society and we need to know that our culture is based on our religion Islam which has given us a complete way of life. While answering a question about cultural heritage preservation he said that Government is paying less attention to the heritage though heritage is one of the most important assets of a Nation. Election of Youth Parliament Alumni Association In the last session of Youth Parliament, elections of the Central Executive Committee of the Youth Parliament Alumni Association took place. Mr. Fawad Zia (YP17-NWFP05) was elected as the President of the Youth Parliament Alumni Association. Mir Fahad Iqbal elected as the Vice President of AJK and Sindh, Mr. Rahim Buksh as the Vice President of Balochistan and FANA, Mr. Abdullah Khan Leghari, Vice President of Punjab and ICT, Mr. Hamid Hussain elected as Vice President of FATA and NWFP, Ms. Sama Paras Abbasi elected as the Secretary General of Youth Parliament Alumni Association and Mr. Mohsin Saeed elected as the Finance Secretary of the association. After this in the end, the Deputy speaker Youth Parliament Pakistan prorogued the session sine die |
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(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 |
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Mr. Ahsen Yousuf Chaudhary (YP42-PUNJAB23) addressing the Youth Parliament Session |
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Mr. Ahmed Javed (YP23-PUNJAB04) receives his certificate from Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi at the farewell dinner |
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Youth Parliamentarians with the President of Pakistan, Mr. Asif Ali Zardari. |
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Youth Prime Minister Mr. Ahmed Ali Babar, Youth Leader of Opposition Mr. Farrukh Jadoon and Speaker Youth Parliament Ms. Kashmala Khan Durrani present a shield to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Yusuf Raza Gillani as Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Mr. Faisal Karim Kundi and Executive Director PILDAT, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob look on. |
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