ISLAMABAD, Nov 17: Around 40 activists from the youth wings of eight major political parties have sought the support of their leaders to inject fresh ideas and political skills as a way to build and modernise their respective parties and strengthen democracy in the country.

Participating in a two-day moot to review the role of youth in political parties convened by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the activists stressed the dynamic role they could play to strengthen democracy in the current democratic transition, adding that the support of their leaders to strengthen party youth wings was crucial.

The participants included youth wing activists from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q), Awami National Party (ANP), Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F)), National Party and Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP).

All were former participants of a year-long NDI programme which provided opportunities to learn and put in practice new political techniques such as using databases for membership tracking and recruitment, developing websites and newsletters for internal communication, organising issue-based events and utilising media outreach to promote their message.

The young leaders recounted the use of their new skills in the recent election including voter registration campaigns to sign up young supporters, going door-to-door and organising rallies to build support for their candidates and getting people out to vote on the election day.

Four of the youth wing participants were elected to their respective provincial assemblies while two of them also chair parliamentary committees.

While the young leaders were optimistic about Pakistans transition to democratic rule, they also raised concerns about the barriers they face to play a more active role in their party despite their energy, proven skills and many successes over the past year. They called on their party leadership to give a voice to youth in party structures and ensure that party youth wings were encouraged within the party to play an active role.

Breaking down these barriers, they agreed to provide youth with an opportunity to serve as a catalyst for democratic change, peace, tolerance and harmony through political activism which, they believe, was the right way to use their potential in a positive manner.

NDI Programme Manager Brian Vogt gave a presentation at the session on the important role youth played in the recent election of Barack Obama as US president.

Mr Vogt described how the Obama campaign targeted the youth vote and created ways for them to use the internet to reach out to hundreds of thousands of young voters, in addition to creating an army of young volunteers across the country that knocked on the doors to build support for his campaign.

South Asia Project Director of the International Crisis Group (ICG) Dr Samina Ahmed spoke to the young leaders about the challenges to Pakistans transition to democratic rule and the importance of strengthening political parties as key institutions in a democratic society.

NDI Country Director Sheila Fruman lauded their commitment and encouraged them to remain active in their parties as a way to build a democratic society. She urged the activists to continue to use the skills they learned in the programme to strengthen their youth wings and stated that NDI would continue to support youth participation in political parties through a new three-year programme.

The participants also visited the National Assembly and the Senate where they observed proceedings of both houses in session.

NDI is a non-profit non-partisan NGO working to strengthen democracy by providing practical assistance to civic and political leaders advancing democratic values, practices and institutions.