Peshawar: April 23, 2013. (PCP) The speakers of the Panel Discussion held on April 22, 2013 at Peshawar under the auspices of Centre for Human Rights Education has urged the youth to support democracy, fully participate in the electoral process but should critically analyze the manifestos of the political l parties before casting their votes. The panelists included Mr. Shakil Waheedullah (Executive Director, CAPS Organization), Kiran Fida (Program Coordinator, Aware Girls) and Mr. Samson Salamat (Director Centre for Human Rights Education) while Mr. Naeem Haroon (Program Coordinator CHRE) and Shams Naveed (Executive Director Bridge Organization) facilitated the discussion. Mr. Shakil Wahidullah said that “the vote of youth will make a huge difference in the upcoming elections, however youth needs to be careful to ensure that their power is not misused by vested interest forces. Youth should support genuine political forces, which has the ability and the clear policies to deal with the serious crisis faced by the country. Ms. Kiran Fida emphasized on the participation of young girls in the elections and demanded that there should be no bar on women’s vote casting because society cannot progress without the full participation of women and girls. Mr. Samson Salamat said that “country is threatened due to growing religious extremism and violence in the name of religion and sect; therefore youth should support the candidates and the political parties which has the ability and clear policy to weed out extremism and maintain a peaceful co-existence”. Mr. Samson Salamat expressed concerns on the election related violence and attacks on the candidates and workers of Awami National Party, and other political parties and demanded that the safety and security of the political workers should be ensured. Youth present in the program, asked different questions at the end of the program related to the crises in the country and the participation of youth in the elections.