Representation of People Act needs to be restored to its original form

Shazia Marri

Islamabad, June 02: “The Representation of People Act needs to be restored to its original form as in 1973”, said Honourable Ms. Shazia Marri, MNA, PPP, while speaking on Module IV ‘Entry and Advancement in Politics’ during the First Session of the 8th Youth Parliament Pakistan.

Governments such as have amended the Act to make difficult the entry of the common man into mainstream politics, much of which happened during the 1980s in a bid to de-politicise the Pakistani people”.

Ms. Marri spoke of the difficulties she had to face in the field of politics as a woman and how she made her way into being one of eight elected women in the National Assembly today. She encouraged the Members of Youth Parliament to face up to social challenges they could face as politicians, always aim to educate themselves as much as possible and instill a sense of duty and service to the nation. She was also of the opinion to establish women’s place in the Parliament, female Parliamentarians should be given development funds as well.

During the formal proceedings of the plenary, Mr. Faizan Daud YP51-PUNJAB04 and Mr. Saad Ashiq YP1-31-PUNJAB20 took oath asLeader of the House and Leader of the Opposition respectively. The House passed a resolution on extending the Right to Information to all public institutions under the Federal Government including security institutions provided that the information disclosed does not harm the strategic interests of the nation. The House was also able to pass a resolution on FATA reforms, calling for the repeal of the Frontier Crime Regulations Act and Constitution of FATA as a separate province with its own legislature.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Iftikharullah Babar, Former Secretary Senate, addressed the House on ‘How Parliament Works?’- Module I of the 8th YPP.  He apprised the Members in details on the functions Parliament performs and what Legislative instruments and processes are available to Parliamentarians.

Ms. Ammara Durrani, Strategic Communications Expert also briefed Members of Youth Parliament on the importance of having a communications strategy as individuals while navigating a professional environment or political scene. Ms. Durrani was addressing the Members on Module II ‘Communication Skills and Media Management’. She said that Parliamentarians do not operate in a vacuum as they once did, legislation now happens in the public sphere with influence and pressure groups affecting law-making at every stage through communications.

Members of the 8th Batch of Youth Parliament Pakistan would call on the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali at the Supreme Court and will also get a chance to visit the Parliament House to observe live proceedings of the Budget session tomorrow.

The first session of the 8th Batch of Youth Parliament Pakistan is being held in Islamabad from June 01-05, 2016.

The Youth Parliament Pakistan is an initiative conceived, planned and facilitated by PILDAT (www.pildat.org). The 8th Youth Parliament Pakistan is supported by the Danish International Development Agency, Government of Denmark as recognition of the importance of young people’s involvement in democracy and democratic practices.

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