ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that disillusionment cannot be resolved by individual personalities but rather through systemic correction and adherence to the Constitution. He warned that the state’s failure to provide fundamental rights to its youth risks radicalization. “The Constitution is the bond between young people and the state. If it is upheld, it ensures the rule of law, justice, and inclusion,” he asserted while speaking at PILDAT’s Youth Parliament Pakistan Policy Dialogue, where discussions centered on the links between climate change and extremism.
The panel featured Malik Amin Aslam Khan, former Federal Minister for Climate Change, and Ms Sabheen Ghoury, MNA and Parliamentary Secretary for IT and Telecom.
Khaqan Abbasi spoke on “The youth’s role in overcoming political disillusionment and finding hope in the face of radicalisation.” However, in a keynote address, Abbasi warned that without quality education, resources, or political accountability, this bond weakens. He emphasized the need to diagnose the causes of youth disillusionment, which he believed were due to the lack of rule of law in the country.
Abbasi asserted, “The Constitution must be upheld by all stakeholders if there is to be rule of law in the country.” He emphasised that only rule-based systems can solve the crisis of youth disillusionment. Abbasi said that with two-thirds of the population, under the age of 32, he described Pakistan’s youth as its greatest untapped asset, comparing its potential to that of China’s development model.
Underscoring the need for free and fair elections and reform, Abbasi emphasized giving opportunities to youth as the key to ending disillusionment, further stating that politicians with strong capacity should motivate them.
The session sparked an engaging Q&A with members of the Youth Parliament who questioned whether the Constitution remains relevant, how it can tangibly empower youth, and what reforms are essential to rebuild trust. Abbasi responded with a clear message that rebuilding institutions and restoring democratic faith is a must for countering radicalisation and reclaiming hope, and he called for introspection on the roots of disillusionment among Pakistan’s youth.
In its final session in Islamabad, a strong display of youth-led civic dialogue emerged. Former Federal Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam Khan, noted that climate change acts as a risk multiplier for conflict, particularly in tensions between India and Pakistan.
Ms Sabheen Ghoury, MNA and Parliamentary Secretary for IT and Telecom, emphasised the need for inclusive policymaking on issues like extremism and climate change, highlighting the importance of youth participation. During the Q&A, panellists addressed climate reparations, displacement, and food insecurity, stressing international cooperation and increased domestic efforts to combat climate change.