By,Bilal Hussain
PAKISTAN has seen in the past that youth not only remained a dynamic source of innovation and creativity at multiple fronts but also contributed to and catalyzed the important changes in the political system or economic opportunities.
Internationally, young people have never remained at the center of political decision making even though almost half the world’s population is below 30 years. The UN report about youth’s political participation and decision making showed that only 1.65 percent of parliamentarians around the world are in their 20s while 11.87 percent are in their 30s.
Currently, Pakistan has 64 percent of the nation younger than 30s while 29 percent are between the age of 15 and 29. However, voice of such a huge potential of human resource largely remains unrepresented. Previously, youth has not only contributed to and catalyzed the important changes in political systems or economic opportunities but also remained a dynamic source of innovation and creativity in Pakistan’s politics.
Voters turn out in elections is a sign of political health of a democracy in any country. According to data released by the Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance since 1940 global voter turnout is around 76pc which stands at way far from 45pc. Among total out of 169 countries whose data has been compiled, Pakistan sadly stands at 165 almost close to bottom. The low voter turnout shows the youth’s mistrust of the electoral and democratic process of the country.
In Pakistan, during the past nine general elections voters turnout remained not at the needful extent. An average voter turnout remained little more than 45 percent, indicating that more than half of the population is not willing to participate in the elections. Similarly, Pakistan remains far behind in voter turnout in comparison with other countries of the world.
Similarly, all the major political parties, Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League Noon (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) of the country couldn’t ensure the young candidate’s representation in the elections even ten pc out of total during previous general election. In elections 2018, PTI and PPP Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) awarded only 7pc of their national and provincial assemblies’ candidates to the young candidates and from 25 to 35 years of age. Similarly, PML-N awarded only 4.5pc to the young candidates.
Two parallel streams seem to be flowing among the Pakistani youth at this time. One, the stream of frustration with the current political setup and two the stream of yearning to participate in the political processes and struggle for change in the country.
Ahmed Bilal Mehbob
So, trust in the political system is the fundamental precondition for the youth to engage them in the political process. Institution’s legitimacy and authority of the public is derived from youth’s trust in them. UNDP report 2022 revealed after survey based on 27 countries polled, more than half of the people were dissatisfied with how democracy was working in their countries.
The current government of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has added more into the worries of youth’s participation in the political arena. Less than ten million of overseas Pakistanis are deprived of their right to take part in electoral process (already given by PTI govt) of the country by the current PDM govt. According to Global Village Space, over half of democracies or over 115 countries allow overseas to exercise their voting right.
The PTI-led government made necessary constitutional amendments, allowing expatriates to cast vote through Electronic Voting Machines (EVM’s) in their home constituencies while staying abroad. However, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) passed a bill reversing PTI’s government’s constitutional amendments by depriving overseas Pakistanis from voting, besides stopping the use of EVM’s for next general elections.
The active participation of young people in civic life as means of securing social cohesion and anchoring democratic principles in a society based on respect for human rights is equally important.
“A mindset of openness and inclusion is a precondition for public participation in democracy”. UNDP Report 2022
According to age-wise distribution of registered voters data uploaded on the ECP’s website, total registered voters are over 122 million. Out of these total registered voters, youth (between 18 to 35 years old) include around 53.8 million which becomes largest cohort of over 44pc out of total. Apart from this, women voters’ turnout is far behind as compared to men. In general elections 2018 male voter turnout was 56.01pc as compared to the 46.89pc female voter turnout, indicating the gap of around nine pc which translates into 11.18 million fewer women votes polled compared to men.
Although ECP has also made some efforts by realizing the sense of awareness among huge potential of the country’s youth. Senior sources in ECP told this scribe that a total of 670 sessions have been conducted since November 2021 to date to create awareness among the youth about the importance of their vote and contribution.
But ECP has not shown seriousness in its first major test to conduct Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) assemblies elections within 90 days. Because it is the Pakistan’s constitution requirement that the election of a national be held and provincial assembly must within 90 days if is dissolved before its term concludes. Although the matter has again sent to court of Supreme Court for its conclusion but the delaying tactics of ECP and federal govt have raised serious concerns of the public and mistrust on the system. This mistrust of the public especially youth got deepen more when most relevant and responsible institution, for the free and fair elections, ECP presented lame excuses, applied delaying tactics and tried to avoid conduct elections.
There is little hope from Pakistan Institute of Legislative, Development and Transparency (PILDAT), the institution for the representation in politics for the young people of Pakistan to promote political awareness and civic engagement among young people in Pakistan, can produce young politician to strengthen democracy in the country. That can be a signal of hope of little bit betterment towards democracy in Pakistan.
It is the high time to remind our youth the the Quaid’s Quote which states:
“Remember, now it is in your hands to put the government in power or remove the government from power; but you must not do it by mob methods. You have the power, you must learn the art to use it; you must try and understand the machinery, therefor the whole thing is in your hands.”
Speech at public meeting Dhaka
21st March, 1948
So, our youth should also understand the importance of vote that the vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men.
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