Youth leaders: Democracy and pluralism discussed at Mehergarh

Activists, historians and philosophers impart knowledge to young men and women.

A six-day advanced leadership training on strengthening democracy and promoting pluralism was organised at Mehergarh where youth leaders from all four provinces participated.

It was a good opportunity for participants to share their specific social, cultural and political issues and learn from one another, stated a press release issued by the NGO. It was also a great way for the young men and women to connect with one another at a human level, which will allow them to support each other in the future.

Human rights activists, historians and philosophers including Dr Kamran Ahmed, Khadim Husain, Amir Rana and Naveed Ahmed were the resource persons at the training who discussed democracy, history of militant discourse and sufism at the training.

Elham, an international women rights activist, also joined participants via video link and briefed them about the struggle of Irani women against fundamentalism.

Ahmed, one of the resource persons, said we need to awaken our hearts so we can feel the pain of others. It has become so easy for us to take human life, which in my opinion, is the biggest crime. It is important for us to reconnect with our pluralistic history, our roots, he stressed.

Dr Fouzia Saeed explained the structure of the state and a citizen’s relationship with its government so that youth knows exactly where to approach when an issue arises in society.

She said we keep blaming the government and media for not doing enough for the country.

A sufi singing contest was also organised at the end of the training, in collaboration with Lok Virsa, for amateur youth singers which was a huge success.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2014.