Decisive steps being taken against terrorists: Pervaiz

RAWALPINDI: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid on Sunday said that practical and decisive steps were being taken against terrorists and expressed the resolve that future generations would be given a protected and safe Pakistan.
Addressing the ceremony of Dastarbandi of students of the Al-Khalil Quran Complex here at College Road, he said the government, the Pakistan Army and law-enforcement agencies were working hard to root out terrorism from the country. “We want to make the country secure not only for our children but also for those of terrorists,” he remarked.
He urged the people to follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and teachings of the Holy Quran which only stressed for protecting human lives instead of taking the same.
Rashid said, “We shouldn’t indulge in sectarianism as we are Muslims and should follow the teachings of the Holy Prophet and Quran.”He asked if there was no discrimination by Allah the Almighty in bestowing His blessings, why the people were divided in sects.
He said he had an old relation with the Al-Khalil Quran Complex. He admired Hafiz Khalil, the founder of the complex, for his efforts to promote religious harmony among the people. Hafiz Khalil, he said, had imparted a lesson of love for humanity irrespective of faith and sect to promote peace.
The minister said that he himself was a student of Hafiz Khalil who never promoted any particular school of thought. Hafiz Khalil has devoted his life to serve Islam and Pakistan. “We need to follow his teachings,” he added.
He said that innocent people were being martyred while offering prayers in mosques and it was essential to educate those indulging in terrorism that their acts were non-Islamic while the Islamic way was to preach peace and love for humanity.
The minister said the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked in Lahore. But it was a fact that the same country (Sri Lanka) had sent a team of its doctors to help Pakistan fight the dengue threat. “The Sri Lankan cooperation was exemplary and this is the teaching of our religion too. It is also the teaching of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that whenever you find someone in trouble anywhere in the world, help him out,” he added.
He said the Punjab chief minister had evolved a comprehensive strategy to cope with the deadly endemic on awar-footing. He used to conduct meetings and continued taking steps till late night.
On the contrary, the media was giving reports of more deaths. But in fact the timely action taken by the chief minister had saved many precious lives, he argued.He said terrorism was the biggest threat being faced by the country and “we have to get rid of this scourge at all costs.” The entire nation has pledged to free the country of terrorism,” he stated.
Rashid said terrorists did not belong to any religion or country. Terrorism is an international phenomenon and collective efforts are required to wipe out this menace, he added.The minister said the next general elections would be held after completion of the present government’s tenure. However, only the party election of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf could be held in 2015 as irregularities were committed in the earlier one, he noted.
He said that terrorism had had a negative impact on the country and damaged the society. He said the government wanted to ensure a better future for the coming generations.“By following the Uswa-e-Hasana, abhorring terrorism and giving a lesson of unity, harmony and brotherhood, we can spread the teachings of Islam in the world.”
He said Ulema should avoid statements that divide the society and should play their role for creating unity among the masses.He deplored the suicide attack in Saudi Arabia which claimed the lives of many worshippers and said that terrorism was the path of destruction.The federal minister distributed certificates among the Huffaz of the Al-Khalil Quran Complex and performed Dastarbandi.