Impressed by initiatives for peaceful polls by Pakistani youth: ambassador

–Bargad organises closing ceremony of project titled ‘Youth Actions for Peaceful Elections’

LAHORE: Dutch Ambassador in Pakistan Ardi Stoios-Braken on Thursday said she was impressed to see that the Pakistani youth, in its capacity, was taking several initiatives for the peaceful holding of elections.

Speaking during a closing event of the project titled “Youth Actions for Peaceful Elections” by a leading youth development organisation, Bargad, the ambassador appreciated the progress made for women electoral participation in Pakistan, and said that efforts were needed to further enhance the participation of women, who make more than 48% of the total population.

Earlier, the participants of the gathering were briefed that at least 200 peace champions from ten universities of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) had executed 100 social action projects to mobilise at least 3,000 fellow youths for peaceful elections in the country.

More than 300 youngsters and eminent personalities from universities, government, media and civil society attended the event.  Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) member Justice (r) Irshad Qaiser graced the occasion as the chief guest, while anchorperson Mahrukh Qureshi moderated the event.

In her keynote speech, Irshad appreciated Bargad and youth peace champions for executing social action projects in far off places and setting examples of youth engagement in the elections. She said the ECP had taken both legislative and administrative reforms and now, wherever, there was less than 10 per cent of female votes polled, elections would be declared null and void.

“ECP has also enrolled 3.8 million votes in the past 7-8 months and has extended postal ballot facility to the disabled. It has asked the provincial governments to make ramps for the disabled and provide access to water and toilets at the polling stations. District committees have been established and 592 monitoring teams are working to oversee compliance of the code of conduct,” she said, adding that ECP was also raising awareness among voters with the help of elections-related content on utility bills.

In the main panel discussion, Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) Executive Director Zafarullah Khan appreciated the legal binding of 10% female voting and 5% women quota on general seats by the political parties.

“The youth should study manifestos of political parties and form their opinions rather than depending on media which is divided now,” he said, adding that elections could not be understood by mega narratives. “For that, we will have to look at the constituency level.” He stressed the need to trust the political choices of the people and said the people could always hold their leaders accountable.

Sehar Tariq, country representative of United States Institute of Peace (USIP) advised the youth to examine fake news especially generated through social media and don’t act as if people voting for opponent parties were their enemies. She said that peaceful elections were also a responsibility of the society and not just state institutions.

Uzma Yaqoob, executive director of the Forum for Dignity Initiatives (FDI), briefed the gathering that under the new elections legislation, 4 transgender candidates were contesting in Pakistan. “There are 2000 registered transgender voters and 125 transgender election observers are working in the field in the country,” she said.