July 28; Exactly 5 years ago, 6 members of the Youth Parliament Pakistan were martyred in the cause of public service and democracy. As we are set to launch our 7th Youth Parliament Pakistan, the 6 martyrs are remembered fondly by PILDAT and the Youth Parliament Pakistan.

On the occasion of the anniversary of the airblue crash on July 28, 2010, our thoughts and prayers are with the martyred souls of the 6 trained and capable future leaders of Pakistan – as well as with the parents and families of the 6 martyred members of Youth Parliament Pakistan whose irreparable loss and void can never be expressed in words.

Mr. Hassan Javed Khan (YP39-SINDH02; Blue Party) Youth Prime Minister, Syeda Rabab Zehra Naqvi (YP41-SINDH04; Blue Party) Youth Information Minister, Mr. Prem Chand (YP38-SINDH01; Blue Party) Youth Minister for Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Mr. Bilal Nasir Jamaee (YP44-SINDH07; Green Party) Youth Shadow Minister for Information, Mr. Owais Bin Laiq (YP45-SINDH08; Green Party) Former Youth Shadow Minister for Information; Member Youth Parliament Standing Committee on Information and Syed Arsalan Ahmad (YP42-SINDH05; Blue Party) Member Youth Parliament Standing Committee on Information, lost their lives alongside other passengers in an Airblue flight crash. The 6 members of Youth Parliament on board the flight were travelling from Karachi to join the concluding session of the 3rd batch of Youth Parliament session in Islamabad.

The facilitation of the Youth Parliament Pakistan by PILDAT is a continuing tribute to the memory of the 6 youth leaders of Pakistan.

The PILDAT management and team, its board of directors, all friends of PILDAT and and the Youth Parliament Steering Committee continue to mourn the untimely and tragic death of the Youth Parliament members. We are joined in this mourning by the alumni of Youth Parliament from across Pakistan as well as the various supporters of the Youth Parliament project.