Representatives of the civil society and concerned citizens vehemently condemn the barbaric massacre of the students and teaching staff of Peshawar public school. They expressed these views while addressing a seminar organized by South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) here Friday.
They termed this barbaric act a crime against humanity and demand to bring all perpetrators, patrons, ideologues, activists and supporters of terrorism on any pretext whatsoever to justice. A lot of blood of our innocent people have already been shed and the brutal killing of 133 children, the future of our hope, once again calls upon all of us to revisit all of our dangerous policies and ideologies that have made a section of our youth barbaric murderers and other a victim.
Civil Society representatives welcomed the remarks of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Peshawar that there is no distinction between good and bad Taliban. Chief of Army Staff General Rahil Sharif also said that terrorists had hit at the nation's heart but the nation and the armed forces would chase a handful of inhuman beasts to their den and bring them to justice.
Speaking on this occasion general secretary SAFMA Imtiaz Alam said that unfortunately, terrorism is rooted in our history, religious misrepresentation, state policies, erroneous security paradigms and use of religion for political objectives and misguiding syllabus/literature in Madaris, public and private schools. The state institutions, various governments, some religious/sectarian parties and a section of media, academia, sections of clergy in particular, have been pursuing, patronising and supporting most misguided policies, including Talibanization, militarization, sectarian frenzy, terrorism in the name of 'Jihad' and 'Qattal'.
These policies have resulted in the creation of parallel power structures, blood thirsty militias, sectarian divides and implosion of state and society from within and, thanks to extra-territorial agendas and terrorist safe heavens; they have brought Pakistan into a dangerous conflict with all of its neighbours and the international community. Not only that it endangered the life, environment, peace and property of our people, and destroyed our culture, education, socio-political balance and spiritual harmony, but also distorted our image as a nation that is at war with itself and with the world. Due to fatal and self-destructive policies, rule of law, writ of the state and peaceful co-existence of various communities have been undermined.
Imtiaz said that various variants of extremist religious, sectarian, violent and hateful paradigms and narratives were popularised that have poisoned the mind of sections of our young generations who provide cheap fodder for various kinds of 'fisad' sanctioned by self-appointed 'amirs'. By persistently hiding behind the conspiracy theories, foreign hands and self-denial, both state and sections of our society did not allow for self-evaluation and critical introspection. By persistently hiding behind the conspiracy theories, foreign hand and self-denial, both state and sections of our society did not allow for self-evaluation and critical introspection. The state under the Ziaist paradigm has not only promoted this self-erosion, but has also undermined itself-making it vulnerable to the Frankenstein it had produced over the decades.
"We reiterate our conscientious demands: All violent religious and sectarian ideologies, terrorist militias and hate materials that promote violence must be proscribed and a paradigm of democratic, humane, pluralist, tolerant nationhood/statehood should be constitutionally, legally, culturally and academically promoted. A national, democratic and enlightened narrative, as opposed to extremist religious, sectarian and fanatic narratives, should be promoted at all levels and in all spheres of state and society allowing both political, civil and human freedom and rights to flourish," Imtiaz said
A comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy should be adopted to not only physically eliminate terrorism, annihilate all private sectarian/religious/ethics militias, but also transform the ideological, social and cultural space that produces and nourished violent and fanatic mindset. All sectarian and violent militias, parties propagating hate and promoting violence should effective banned and not allowed to re-emerge with different names. Every kind of state patronage to terrorist outfits and extremist religious groupings must come to an end and no favourites may be allowed to play havoc within and outside Pakistan. Such a rational, objective and peaceful national security and foreign policy should be adopted that serves the interests of the people of Pakistan, peaceful co-existence with neighbours and a co-operative relationship with the international community according to our means and requirements.
The curriculum in madaris, public and private schools that promote hate, fanaticism, sectarianism, bigotry and violence must be changed and education reforms must be undertaken at all levels and forms of education. An open cultural policy be encouraged that helps promote and polish the talent of our youth in performing arts, sports and literary spheres. The current extraordinary situation requires certain exceptions and temporary deviations, such as reviving the death penalty in 'most serious crimes', in our case all acts of terrorism that deny right to life of our people. All counter-terrorism authorities and personnel should be liable to public scrutiny at some appropriate parliamentary forum and all their deviations and excesses should be judicially accounted for.
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