NA speaker for unity among Muslim Ummah to curb terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Tuesday underlined the need for forging unity amongst Muslim Ummah to confront the challenges of terrorism and extremism and said that Muslims should rectify the distorted image of Islam which was being projected by the extremists.

He said this while talking to Dr Omar Al-Berzinji, Under Secretary for Legal Affairs and Multilateral Relations, Republic of Iraq in Parliament House Tuesday.Ayaz Sadiq said that Islam is religion of peace and abhors terrorism and extremism in its all forms and manifestations. He said that western negative propaganda had distorted the image of Islam and presented it as an intolerant and violent religion.

He asserted that terrorists neither have any nationality nor religion. He informed the visiting dignitary about his efforts for bringing Muslim Ummah together through parliamentary diplomacy.

He said that he was in contact with Muslim members of the Inter Parliamentary Union for bringing a resolution condemning Israeli atrocities committed against innocent Palestinians in its next meeting being held early next year.

The Speaker said that Pakistan had been fighting against terrorism and extremism for more than a decade and had suffered immense economic loss besides loss of precious human lives and damage to infrastructure.

He said that present government was committed to root out this menace from the country for which military operation was underway and would last till extermination of last terrorist.Referring to its brotherly ties with Iraq, the Speaker said that Pakistan attached immense importance to its historic relations with Iraq that are deep rooted in religion, history and culture.

He also apprised the dignitary about the constitution of Pakistan-Iraq Parliamentary Friendship Group in National Assembly terming it an effective way to bring both the nations specially parliaments more closer.

Dr Omar Al-Berzinji expressed his gratitude to the Speaker for his remarks and said that Iraq also attached immense importance to its relations with Pakistan and desired to further consolidate them through parliamentary and economic cooperation.

He agreed that dispelling negative propaganda against Islam should be the priority of Muslim Ummah and assured his government’s support in that regard. Apprising about the law and order situation in Iraq, Dr Omar Al-Berzinji said that Iraqi forces were steadily moving ahead and reclaiming territories from the occupation of terrorists.

He said that Iraqi government had drawn up a compressive strategy to revive its economy and rebuilt infrastructure. He said that his government was keen for importing Pakistani trained human resource to take part in reconstruction process in Iraq.