Discussing democracy: Role of youth should be enhanced, says Asad Umar
Experts talk about strengthening democracy in the country at SDPI seminar.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Asad Umar sees little youth activism beyond the boundaries of political parties. He says the youth is informed about events but they are uninformed about ideas, history and ideologies. “I don’t see youth-based movements in Pakistan.”
Umar, along with Lt Gen (retd) Talat Masood and Dr Farzana Bari of the Awami Workers Party (AWP) were sharing their views during an ‘intellectual debate’ at a seminar tilted ‘Democracy, Development and the Role of Youth’ held at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute on Monday.
The PTI lawmaker was of the view that making the youth think, read and learn instead of just raising slogans should be the priority and more youth voices should be included in the process of ‘change’.
“We have 35 percent reserve seats for the youth in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and the party funds were only given to the youth.” There should be a quota in the parliament for them as well the way we have reserve seats for women and minorities, he added.
While commenting on the first nexus of the topic, Umar said priorities were not consistent with the needs of people in Pakistan.
Non-democratic attitude of the political parties was another problem, he said. “Without the devolution of powers, there won’t be any democracy and development.” While answering a question, Umar said that local body elections could not take place in K-P because of delimitation issues.
Masood, while giving an overview of history, said strengthening political parties and departing from dynastic politics was the need of the hour. “At the moment, dynastic parties will never introduce a merit-based system in their parties.” He was of the view that we needed to strengthen all the institutions and the army should play an important role in doing so.
He emphasised that the civil-military dialogue must continue to dismiss the perception that it was army weakening the government, adding that strengthening democracy meant making institutions strong enough so they start delivering. “No accountability makes the system weak.”
Democracy cannot be reduced to holding elections in the country, said Bari. The non-democratic attitude of the Chaudhrys, Makhdooms and tribal and feudal lords was a problem in the way of development, she said, adding that we have not yet reached to the stage where we have freedom of choices. She was of the view that there will be no way for the poor to reach to the assemblies in the absence of land and electoral reforms.
Among other things, the age limit for becoming a member of the assembly was also discussed. To the question why a person was not allowed to contest elections at the age of 18 when he or she has the right to elect someone, Umar concluded that the age limit should be challenged in the court as there should not be any restriction on a person for becoming a parliamentarian when the same person was old enough to die for a country and choose an MNA and MPA of their choice.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2014.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Asad Umar sees little youth activism beyond the boundaries of political parties. He says the youth is informed about events but they are uninformed about ideas, history and ideologies. “I don’t see youth-based movements in Pakistan.”
Umar, along with Lt Gen (retd) Talat Masood and Dr Farzana Bari of the Awami Workers Party (AWP) were sharing their views during an ‘intellectual debate’ at a seminar tilted ‘Democracy, Development and the Role of Youth’ held at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute on Monday.
The PTI lawmaker was of the view that making the youth think, read and learn instead of just raising slogans should be the priority and more youth voices should be included in the process of ‘change’.
“We have 35 percent reserve seats for the youth in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and the party funds were only given to the youth.” There should be a quota in the parliament for them as well the way we have reserve seats for women and minorities, he added.
While commenting on the first nexus of the topic, Umar said priorities were not consistent with the needs of people in Pakistan.
Non-democratic attitude of the political parties was another problem, he said. “Without the devolution of powers, there won’t be any democracy and development.” While answering a question, Umar said that local body elections could not take place in K-P because of delimitation issues.
Masood, while giving an overview of history, said strengthening political parties and departing from dynastic politics was the need of the hour. “At the moment, dynastic parties will never introduce a merit-based system in their parties.” He was of the view that we needed to strengthen all the institutions and the army should play an important role in doing so.
He emphasised that the civil-military dialogue must continue to dismiss the perception that it was army weakening the government, adding that strengthening democracy meant making institutions strong enough so they start delivering. “No accountability makes the system weak.”
Democracy cannot be reduced to holding elections in the country, said Bari. The non-democratic attitude of the Chaudhrys, Makhdooms and tribal and feudal lords was a problem in the way of development, she said, adding that we have not yet reached to the stage where we have freedom of choices. She was of the view that there will be no way for the poor to reach to the assemblies in the absence of land and electoral reforms.
Among other things, the age limit for becoming a member of the assembly was also discussed. To the question why a person was not allowed to contest elections at the age of 18 when he or she has the right to elect someone, Umar concluded that the age limit should be challenged in the court as there should not be any restriction on a person for becoming a parliamentarian when the same person was old enough to die for a country and choose an MNA and MPA of their choice.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 30th, 2014.