Leaving youth behind: NYO flays govt for setting minimum age for candidates at 21
Over 6,000 submit nomination papers in Mardan district
PHOTO: AFP
MARDAN:
The National Youth Organisation Mardan chapter lashed out at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government for “not including the youth in the local government laws”.
At Mardan Press Club on Sunday, NYO local president Muhammad Harris said taking away the right of 18 to 21-year-olds to contest elections was condemnable. He was flanked by cabinet members from the district.
“The government has not defined ‘youth’ adequately,” said Harris. He appealed to the government and election commission to clearly tell them the category this age group fell under.
A large number of people in this age group submitted nomination papers to contest local government elections, said Harris. “But they were pushed out of the process, by being declared underage.”
Questioning universal suffrage, the district NYO president said if a person could vote at 18, then “surely they should have the right to contest elections.” The government is keeping the youth away to rig LG polls, he said.
“Imran Khan wanted to hold general elections under judicial supervision in 2013 but now his party is holding election under the watch of government officials,” added Harris.
The NYO president condemned the government’s decision on the age group for contesting elections. He said the organisation will protest after consulting Awami National Party leaders.
Nomination papers
More than 6,000 candidates have submitted nomination papers, hoping to contest LG polls in Mardan district, which has 75 union councils.
Deputy Commissioner Shahidullah Khan said they have received more than 6,000 nomination papers. These include 961 women and 40 minority candidates’ papers as well.
He said they received 490 nominations for district councillor seats. Khan added 497 applicants from Mardan, Takht Bhai and Katlang tehsils submitted papers with the relevant returning officers for tehsil councillor seats.
Around 2,937 people have submitted their nomination papers for village and union council seats, 1,052 for youth and 115 for peasant seats, said the DC.
Campaigning and attempts to form alliances are also underway in Mardan district.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2015.
The National Youth Organisation Mardan chapter lashed out at the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government for “not including the youth in the local government laws”.
At Mardan Press Club on Sunday, NYO local president Muhammad Harris said taking away the right of 18 to 21-year-olds to contest elections was condemnable. He was flanked by cabinet members from the district.
“The government has not defined ‘youth’ adequately,” said Harris. He appealed to the government and election commission to clearly tell them the category this age group fell under.
A large number of people in this age group submitted nomination papers to contest local government elections, said Harris. “But they were pushed out of the process, by being declared underage.”
Questioning universal suffrage, the district NYO president said if a person could vote at 18, then “surely they should have the right to contest elections.” The government is keeping the youth away to rig LG polls, he said.
“Imran Khan wanted to hold general elections under judicial supervision in 2013 but now his party is holding election under the watch of government officials,” added Harris.
The NYO president condemned the government’s decision on the age group for contesting elections. He said the organisation will protest after consulting Awami National Party leaders.
Nomination papers
More than 6,000 candidates have submitted nomination papers, hoping to contest LG polls in Mardan district, which has 75 union councils.
Deputy Commissioner Shahidullah Khan said they have received more than 6,000 nomination papers. These include 961 women and 40 minority candidates’ papers as well.
He said they received 490 nominations for district councillor seats. Khan added 497 applicants from Mardan, Takht Bhai and Katlang tehsils submitted papers with the relevant returning officers for tehsil councillor seats.
Around 2,937 people have submitted their nomination papers for village and union council seats, 1,052 for youth and 115 for peasant seats, said the DC.
Campaigning and attempts to form alliances are also underway in Mardan district.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2015.