Pakistan
needs collective effort and shared response from Pakistani media,
civilian society, political parties and security forces to combat
radicalism and extremism. This was stated by the speakers at a joint
seminar conducted by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI),
Minority Rights Group (MRG) & Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Netherland here on Monday.

The speakers discussed the radicalism in Pakistan and its possible solutions to prevent this plague from further spreading.

In
his welcome address, Dr. Abid Qayium Suleri, Executive Director, SDPI
lamented the killing of Rashid Rehman in Multan, which is an example of
vacuum of tolerance and patience in our society.

While
chairing the session, Mehmood Bashir Virk, Chairman, Standing Committee
on Law, Justice and Human Rights suggested that media and civil
societies should join hands together and launch a vigorous campaign
against violence and also publish human interest stories about the
victims of indiscriminate terrorist violence.

Prof
Ibrahim from Jamaat-e-Islami proposed that the vital need for a ‘grand
strategy’ for covering terrorism and extremism is based on inculcating
justice in society. Unfortunately, we don’t have an independent state,
which is under debt of IMF and World Bank.

Ejaz
Haider, Senior Analyst and Expert on National Security Affairs
highlighted that the real problem is not terrorism, it is extremism and
unfortunately, we are full of religion, but devoid of culture.”
He also talked about the monopoly of violence. “Monopoly of violence
does not mean that the state should have the power to do anything with
the masses but it states that this power should be legitimized through
specific rules and laws” he added.

Mussarat
Ahmed Zeb, MNA, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf opined that terrorism is a
tree and radicalization provides a balanced food to grow the tree
properly. Youth can be the best way to bring peace in world by nurturing
their minds through providing them soul energizing activities.

Also present were Ahmed Saleem, Mome Saleem and MNA Ali Muhammad.

Declaimer: Views provided by the speakers are their personal opinion.