Punjab Assembly Peace Committee (PAPC) on Friday held a press conference at Lahore Press Club to brief about the PAPC work for peace building within the Punjab Assembly. Peace Committee members have raised seven relevant questions and resolutions in the Assembly for speedy initiatives on hate-speech, curriculum and training of officials on hate-speech material.
At this occasion, the establishment and consequent work of the PAPC was hailed as a big step for the MPAs working on peace building and in support of National Action Plan in Punjab. Patron of the PYPC/PAPC and Parliamentary Secretary of Youth Affairs in Punjab Assembly MPA Chaudhry Sarfraz Afzal said that support of elected representatives and parliamentarians was crucial to support implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP).
He appreciated that PAPC had organised briefing and orientation sessions on NAP for MPAs and assisted them in presenting questions and resolutions in the Assembly sessions. "Punjab government is vigilant to curb hate-speech material and other forms of extremism and is implementing laws enacted to curb the menace of extremism and terrorism."
Chairperson of the PYPC, MPA Asif Mehmood hoped that he and other newly elected office bearers of the PYPC would continue consolidating democracy through input of young parliamentarians in Punjab.
While appreciating technical assistance provided by Bargad, an organisation for youth development to the young parliamentarians, he pointed that proceedings, briefings and legislative support of the PYPC had resulted for the betterment of parliamentarians. MPA Rana Abdul Manan, Vice-Chairperson of the PYPC, said that "our law enforcement forces are valiantly fighting against terrorism. It is high time that young parliamentarians support on-going efforts to root-out much deeper issues of extremism in society and promote tolerance. Their legislative performance and oversight of the executive will bring positive results especially for future generations of Pakistan."
MPA Hina Pervez Butt, who was been elected as General Secretary of the Youth Caucus, said Pakistan was entering into its prosperous and peaceful phase ahead. "This needs to be facilitated with formulating and support relevant laws and better performance of the MPAs to make a transition to a progressive country."
MPA Saadia Sohail Rana said young MPAs had brought erstwhile ignored issues on floor of the Punjab Assembly, which had encouraged the MPAs to put forward questions and resolutions on issues that go beyond their respective constituencies but were important for peace building & countering violent extremism in Punjab.
MPAs Ramesh Singh, Mary Gill and Executive Director of Bargad, Sabiha Shaheen also spoke during the press conference. The panelists in the end cut a Christmas cake to convey a message of national solidarity and inter-faith harmony congratulated fellow Christian citizens at this occasion. MPA Mary Gill thanked MPAs and other participants on behalf of the Christian community.
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