Roundtable recommendations: Call for youth’s role in universities’ administrative affairs

Deweaponisation of student outfits, empowerment of rural youth discussed.

ISLAMABAD:

With a majority of its population currently under the age of 25, Pakistan --- already one of the world’s most populous countries --- is facing a profound demographic change. The consequences of having a majority of young people in a country can be both transformative and disastrous.

These were among the findings of a report titled “Apolitical or depoliticised - Pakistan’s youth and politics” that was launched by the Jinnah Institute (JI) on Friday. A roundtable comprising young activists and parliamentarians representing different political parties and groups discussed the report. JI Director Raza Rumi moderated the session.

Ahmer Naqvi, one of the authors of the report, presented a historical overview of student politics in the country. He highlighted the 1940s and 1950s as the prime examples of students being an active part of the democratic process both from right and leftwing political parties.

While mentioning oppressive military regimes which banned the political student unions, he said the narrative on student participation in major political parties remains incomplete. “The youth is not very excited by the current political options. What are the parties doing and how do we get the young people to take part in politics?” he questioned.

Myra Sarfraz, from the PML-N’s social media wing, observed that half-baked facts only serve to confuse the youth which needs to be trained to be well versed in the field. She listed some of the PML-N’s initiatives aimed at youth empowerment including the laptops’ distribution scheme. Another speaker countered the argument by saying the process needed larger long-term incentives like enrolment of youth in educational institutions and better job opportunities for sustainable change.

Shaza Fatima, an MNA from the PML-N, shared her experiences of working with the rural youth, who were more vocal on the country’s political affairs than most of their counterparts studying at private and elite institutions in urban centres. She underlined the need for a mechanism to spread awareness among the urban youth.

Mirwaise Khan, the founder of the JUI-F’s youth wing, credited the PTI for inspiring his party’s youth initiative. On the other hand, he lamented that a lack of resources and exposure were preventing seminary students from being integrated into the mainstream.

Zaheer Bokhari from the National Students Federation (NSF) maintained that it was imperative to recall that the proliferation of violence was directly related to the ban on student unions in the first place. More students wished to remain apolitical in the urban centres. De-weaponising student bodies is an important aspect of rehabilitating student politics there, he added.

In the end, Naqvi read out a list of recommendations from the report including advocacy of legislative changes towards youth and student politics, internal party reforms, greater students and youth participation in the administration of education institutes.

The roundtable critiqued and commented on the recommendations, concluding that the revival of student unions is an evolutionary process and needs a framework for implementation. Moreover, they observed that the “failed state” or “doomsday scenario” that is usually painted referring to the country is exaggerated yet still the youth should be aware of why they are joining a political party, know the party’s manifesto.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2013.