Participants of the Constitutional Civic Labs hosted by YPF visit the Parliament House, students briefed on the Constitution, Parliament, and democratic system.
Islamabad (Izhhar Khan Niazi) – The President of the Young Parliamentarians Forum and Member of the National Assembly, Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, stated that promoting constitutional awareness and responsible citizenship among youth is extremely important. Citizens should understand the Constitution and play their role in upholding the rule of law and its implementation.
While hosting a special session for participants of the Constitutional Civic Labs at the Parliament House, Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar emphasized that violations of the law should not be resolved through compromises that allow responsible individuals to evade legal accountability; the rule of law is a fundamental necessity of a democratic society.
The session was organized by the Young Parliamentarians Forum in collaboration with Adaletika, with students from Bahria University Islamabad, Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar, and Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad participating. During the session, Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, President of the Young Parliamentarians Forum, and General Secretary Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani engaged in discussions with the students, while the special secretary for special initiatives at the National Assembly Secretariat, Syed Shamon Hashmi, facilitated the event.
Participants received a detailed briefing on the Constitution of Pakistan, the formation of Parliament, fundamental rights, the right to education, and constitutional provisions related to the social and economic welfare of the people. Students were also informed about the roles and responsibilities of the Young Parliamentarians Forum, Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights, and the Parliamentary Task Force on Sustainable Development Goals.
Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar highlighted the objectives and activities of the Young Parliamentarians Forum, stating that the forum provides a platform for young members of Parliament to connect directly with youth. She mentioned that visits to provincial and legislative assemblies are being conducted for the establishment of provincial chapters of YPF, in accordance with the vision of National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, while youth courts are also being held at various universities across the country.
Discussing the positive and negative aspects of social media, she advised students to be cautious of misinformation, unverified narratives, and the negative effects of emotional populism.
General Secretary of the Young Parliamentarians Forum, Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani, welcomed the participants, stating that students who diligently pursue their education and contribute to societal improvement are playing their part in the development of the country and also in the struggle for justice.
He urged the youth of Balochistan not to fall prey to hate-based narratives against the state of Pakistan. He warned against linguistic propaganda and extremist nationalism, stating that Balochistan is home to various communities and classes.
Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani encouraged youth to use social media in a positive and responsible manner and to utilize digital platforms for promoting knowledge, constructive dialogue, national unity, and positive narratives.
During the meeting, a question-and-answer session was held, where students asked parliament members about the interpretation of constitutional provisions and contemporary issues related to youth, leading to detailed discussions.
At the end of the event, awards were distributed among students for their university projects, which focused on topics including the Constitution, minority rights, and public issues. The awards were presented by Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar and Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani.