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Navigating Pakistan's Political Future: The Case for Youthful Leadership

© AP Photo / K.M. ChaudarySupporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attend a welcoming rally for their leaders in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023.
Supporters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif attend a welcoming rally for their leaders in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. - Sputnik India, 1920, 28.11.2023
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The leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, recently said that the country’s youth deserve an opportunity to shape their future without anyone's political baggage. Is it time for Pakistan to bring younger leaders into its political landscape?
Last week during a speech in the city of Chitral, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that "traditional old-guard politicians" should step back to give the young a chance to step into the country's political landscape.
The former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bhutto Zardari, who is 35 years old, expressed this rhetoric against his PPP party’s former partners in the previous coalition government Pakistan Muslim League Noon (PML-N), accusing the Shehbaz Sharif-led government of neglecting public issues and indulging in personal vendetta.
© Photo : MOFA Pakistan / Bilawal Bhutto ZardariBilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan's Foreign Minister
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan's Foreign Minister - Sputnik India, 1920, 27.11.2023
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Pakistan's Foreign Minister
Bhutto Zardari's statement comes at a time when Pakistan's former prime minister and older brother of Shehbaz Sharif, leader of PML-N Nawaz Sharif is gearing up to campaign in the general elections hoping to become the country's prime minister for the fourth time.

Nawaz Sharif recently returned to Pakistan after spending four years in London living in exile, after he was ousted from leadership over multiple corruption allegations. The Supreme Court of Pakistan had banned him from contesting elections for life, but since his return Sharif's lawyers have been appearing in courts and some of the cases against him have been pardoned.

So will the possibility of Nawaz's return as premier with tacit support from Pakistan's Army be old wine in a new bottle or does Pakistan need a young leadership to look at its internal and external issues?

Filling the Political Vacuum

According to Scotland based political observer and writer Parvez Salik, Nawaz Sharif's return has been army orchestrated, but majority of Pakistanis don't have much faith in the PML-N's leader.

"Sharif is a businessman turned politician, who is a master of corruption and manipulation. We see him rushing out of Pakistan to avoid the heat supposedly at death's door and yet here he is fit and healthy, ready for a fourth tenure as prime minister," Salik told Sputnik India.

The analyst pointed out that it is highly interesting how Sharif managed to reconcile with the country's army and his cases are being pardoned.

"By combining their powers, they hope to save Pakistan from destruction. But whether they can do so is doubtful. However, regaining power is possible by vote-rigging and media manipulations," the analyst said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's most popular leader (as shown by several polls) and chief of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party (PTI) Imran Khan, is serving a three year prison sentence. It has been reported that his party PTI may be disqualified from contesting the upcoming elections.
© Photo : Twitter/@PTIOfficialLHRPTI Chairman Imran Khan attends the Oath Ceremony in Gujranwala
PTI Chairman Imran Khan attends the Oath Ceremony in Gujranwala - Sputnik India, 1920, 27.11.2023
PTI Chairman Imran Khan attends the Oath Ceremony in Gujranwala
Hence, with the existing vacuum in the political landscape, leaders like Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are pushing for young leadership to step up.
Nevertheless, in assessing Pakistan's trajectory, the question of whether the nation needs a young leadership to address its internal and external challenges is a complex one. While age alone doesn't guarantee effective governance, there are solid arguments in favor of injecting youthful perspectives into Pakistan's leadership.

Pakistan's Growing Youth Population

According to a report by the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) in Pakistan, youth represent 60 percent of the total population, but their voice is largely unrepresented in the political system.

Sputnik India discussed the matter with a former senior diplomat in Pakistan's Foreign Service, who on condition of anonymity, said that internally Pakistan grapples with issues ranging from economic disparities, political crisis, to educational reforms, so a young leadership might bring fresh ideas and a more nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by the country's burgeoning youth population.

Moreover, in a rapidly changing global landscape, digital literacy and adaptability, often associated with younger leaders, are becoming increasingly crucial for steering the nation towards sustainable development.

"Externally, Pakistan faces geopolitical complexities that demand astute diplomatic skills. A younger leader might offer a different approach to international relations, fostering connections with a diverse group of nations and navigating regional dynamics," the diplomat explained.

However, he added that the lack of experience can also be a drawback, especially when dealing with long-standing international issues.
For Pakistan it's essential to strike a balance between the energy and innovation associated with youth and the wisdom and experience that come with age. A collaborative leadership that combines the insights of experienced leaders with the dynamism of younger voices may be the key to addressing Pakistan's multifaceted challenges.

"The need for young leadership rests on finding leaders who possess not just the right age but also the vision, integrity, and strategic acumen required to navigate the complexities of the nation's internal and external landscape," he concluded.

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