NOVANEWS
By Sajjad Shaukat
Past experience proves that the youth played a key role in the nation-building of the developed
countries, while pulling them out of any crisis due to their zeal and zest.
Unlike the developed countries, Pakistan has been facing multi-faceted problems such as acute
financial crisis, poverty, unemployment, social inequities, lack of security, loadshading of
electricity and gas in wake of continuous acts of terrorism. But, our young persons have shown
a greater enthusiasm and energy in coping with these multiple problems. In these terms, their
vitality and power of determination is praiseworthy.
On the on side, enemies of the Pakistan are using various schemes to manipulate the youth by
provocating them to join the militants in order to conduct subversive activities, on the other side,
a majority of the Pakistani youth is well-determined in thwarting the nefarious designs of the
terrorists who are involved in brutal acts of terrorism and have brought embarrassment to the
Now, Pakistan’s environment has been darkened with the perennial incidents of bomb blasts,
turmoil and unrest, as the insurgent target educational institutions, public places like festivals,
parks, business centers, hospitals, places of entertainment and worship. Our youth which is too
sensitive and mindful of the terrorism-related phenomenon of trauma surrounding them, cannot
remain oblivious to the same, as it is agonizing for them.
Knowing the memories of their relatives and dear ones who lost their lives in various terrorist
acts like bomb blasts, suicide attacks, targeted killings, ethnic and sectarian violence, the
youth has urged the various organs of the state—the government and the judiciary including
law-enforcing agencies and media to take effective steps to get rid Pakistan of the menace of
While some political and religious entities including some media analysts are misguiding the
youngsters that it is elseone’s war, not Pakistan’s war, but the youth is well-aware that it is
our own war against terrorism, as the militants are being supported by external enemies of
the country. They know the reality that entrenched in Afghanistan external secret agencies
like American CIA, Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad have perennially been arranging acts of
sabotage in various regions of Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Balochistan and
Karachi through their affiliated militant groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),
Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Jundollah (God’s soldiers) including other insurgent
groups and some Baloch feudal lords (Sardars) to fulfill the secret strategic designs of US, India
and Israel at the cost of Pakistan, China and Iran. Besides martyring several personnel of law-
enforcing agencies and security forces in various parts of the country, in Balochistan, these
foreign-backed entities kidnapped and massacred many Punjabis, Pushtuns, Shias, people of
Hazara community, patriot Balochis and Iranian Shias. In the past few years, they abducted
and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan. On a number of occasions, BLA,
Jundollah and other separatist groups claimed responsibility for their subversive acts. So, the
young persons know that these terrorists have accelerated their anti-social, undemocratic and un-
Islamic practices in the country where their merciless activities continue unabated. Hence, they
are showing vitality by emphasizing the necessity of unity to fight the ruthless enemy.
No doubt, the youth in Pakistan is fully cognizant of the fact that all convicted terrorists
especially those who were awarded death penalty by the courts of law should be executed
without any delay, as it will send a strong message to the militants. And Judiciary on its part
must ensure speedy disposal of all cases pertaining to terrorism, otherwise, justice in cases of
terrorist attacks will remain delayed. According to a maxim, “justice delayed is justice denied.”
Nevertheless, the Pakistani youth is fully aware of the dangers which lurk ahead and the
impediments which lie in the path of realizing their full potential and a brighter future. In this
respect, the government of Pakistan needs to take serious measures to positively exploit the
enthusiasm and energy of the youth not only in coping with the political instability, social strife
and economic problems, but also menace of terrorism in the country.
For the purpose, our own media must show courage by denouncing all acts of terrorism, and stop
providing space to these terrorists, as media statements by the spokesmen of the militant groups
simply glorify the cause of terrorism in one way or the other.
It is good sign that the Pakistani youth like its counterparts around the world also uses the social
media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Myspace etc. effectively. In the cyber-age, social media
which means online platform for interactive dialogue, have equally been utilizing by the peoples
of the developed and less developed countries. In this context, the Facebook site originally was
created for students of Harvard to get acquaintance with one another, but later, it was utilized by
other colleges and universities as well, and now allows anyone to get registration.
In fact, these sites are creating communities which allow people to keep tabs of their social
relationships by exploring and finding other persons with similar interests. In these terms, social
media services like Twitter and Facebook are really playing the revolutionary role.
In this regard, a study suggests that online chatter about revolution often began just before actual
revolution took place. And social media also served as an outlet for citizens of the region to tell
their stories of revolution, which played an inspirational role for neighboring countries. The
study explains that social media carried a cascade of messages about freedom and democracy
across North Africa and the Middle East, and helped raise expectations for the success of
political uprising—in Egypt where the Arab Spring blossomed—Howard and his team found
that the number of tweets that mentioned revolution in that country exploded from 2,300 per day
to more than 230,000 per day. The number of videos, Facebook updates and blog posts about
government opposition also rose dramatically.
Moreover, there is virtually no control over the sites, and some of the users can misuse by giving
false information or spread disinformation. According to a NGO, the photos of flogging of 17
year old girl in Swat in 2009 displayed on the Facebook was engineered, which had brought
Nonetheless, our youngsters who know the art of using social media sites through internet must
utilize the same for encountering anti-Pakistan propaganda of the external enemies, and in
improving the image of the country in the eyes of international community. Thus, they can also
unite various segments of the society in fighting the different war against terrorists.
It is notable that general elections 2013 witness the youth of Pakistan participating
wholeheartedly in the electoral process. Optimistically speaking, if democracy prevails, the
youth, being in majority, will actually dictate the type of government which will reside in the
corridors of power. The current government’s recognition of the power of the youth is likely to
motivate and to empower them.
It is mentionable that education and research are very essential for the development of a country,
as we can see in the west. So, strenuous efforts for peace and an atmosphere conducive to the
pursuit of education, research and vocational interests are of prime importance in relation to the
Consequently, Pakistani youth which is full of enthusiasm and energy has expressed firm resolve
to fight the menace of terrorism, and to play their role for the security of Pakistan, while helping
the country in diversified fields for nation-building purposes.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants,
Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
