Learn more about Liberal Forum Pakistan

Liberal Forum Malaysia invited Ms. Gulmina Bilal, two times elected Central Committee member of the Liberal Forum Pakistan and an individual political analyst, to attend a luncheon discussion with a group of different party members and representatives from civil society organizations who see the space for the promotion of liberal agendas in Malaysia.

Ms. Gulmina’s story about the establishment of LFP was indeed inspiring. She said that the Liberal Forum Pakistan started off as an idea in 1999, it has then evolved into an organization. It actually started off as a project but has now become a process. The Liberal Forum of Pakistan has certainly come a long way since its establishment when only a small group of liberal minded individuals gathered in a small room to discuss the shrinking space for liberals. What started off as what some called wishful thinking has now become a full fledged organization that is an associate member of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats.

Ms. Gulmina elaborated that the Liberal Forum Pakistan is not a political party neither is it a typical NGO. It is a movement, a process, a voluntary membership group now comprising of 3000 members. Any citizen of Pakistan that subscribes to liberals values can become a member after paying the modest annual membership fee of 200 Rupees which is about US $3. A minimum of seven members form a local chapter or what is called the district chapter. They elect from amongst themselves three office bearers namely Coordinator, General Secretary and Finance Secretary. The task of the local chapter is to concentrate on local issues. They conduct their monthly chapter meetings and other activities from the chapter membership funds. The Coordinator and General Secretary represent the chapter at the Provincial Council which consists of the office bearers of all the chapters in a given state. They elect from amongst themselves a Provincial Coordinator who is an ex officio member of the National Board. They also elect four other persons to represent the State .So each state sends five people.

The Liberal Forum Pakistan is internally democratic. Elections are conducted after every three years. All positions can be removed. For instance, at the district level, if an office bearer is not active, the chapter can depose him / her through a no confidence motion.

In her summary, Ms. Gulmina said that the Liberal Forum Pakistan will not develop into a political party, although some members have submitted suggestions. It will continue to be a training ground for all liberal minded individuals. LFP has conducted research and published a few publications promoting its ideologies and activities.

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