PESHAWAR: The Jamaat-i-Islami`s youth wing has announced it will hold internal election in Peshawar district in phases from Jan 1 and begin a membership campaign on Dec 23.

The announcement was made by JI district president and former MNA Sabir Hussain Awan while addressing a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday.

He was accompanied by JI youth wing Peshawar president Siddique Rehman Paracha, general secretary Sayar Mohammad, information secretary Mushtaq Ahmad Khalil and other officebearers.Mr. Awan said general secretary of the party Ateequr Rehman, would work as the election commissioner for the upcoming electoral exercise to be conducted in different phases in 92 union councils of Peshawar district.

He said elections would also be held in two wards of Peshawar`s cantonment area.

The JI youth wing leader said the nomination papers would be submitted to the party`s district election commission from Dec 11 to Dec 13 after which scrutiny of papers and objections to them, finalisation of candidate lists and allotment of symbols would take place.

He said the people under the age of 35 years could become a member of the JI Youth wing.

About the electoral code of conduct, Mr.Swan said every member would cast one vote for president, general secretary and cabinet member each.

He said there was no restriction on candidates to run election campaign.

`Every candidate can put up one billboard and small panaflex to highlight positive agenda to the youth wing`s members, he said.

The JI youth wing leader said in the country, the people under the age of 29 years made around 64 per cent of the population who could play an important role in national development and progress.

He said his party was taking measures to provide youths with a platform to express their ability and energy in efficient manner.

`We will engage youths in positive activ-ities besides providing them with education andjob opportunities.

Also, we will arrange sports and cultural activities for youths to keep them away from drugs and other social ills,` he said.

Mr. Awan said the successive governments completely ignored the country`s huge youth force but the JI would enable youths to use their ability efficiently and thus, fully participating in the process of the country`s development.

He said the party would prepare youths for future leadership with honesty and dedication.

The JI youth wing leader said a grand youth convention had been planned for next year in which more than one million young persons would participate.