Conference: Dialogue within society urged to counter extremism

PESHAWAR: Speakers at a conference here on Thursday stressed the need to foster tolerance and reasoned dialogue within society.

They were speaking on the second day of the three-day Countering Violent Extremism Conference, organised under the auspices of the Center of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism.

Chairman of the Council of Islamic Ideology, Dr Qibla Ayaz, enlightened participants on the inclinations towards religious seminaries in Pakistan, shedding light on the challenges posed by religious extremism.He emphasized the importance of discipline in both religious and modern sciences, also addressing the backdrop of Islamization imposed on Pakistani society.

Dr. Aamir Raza, an assistant professor at the Department of Political Science, University of Peshawar, discussed the promotion of extremism in the former tribal areas and highlighted the associated risks.

He advocated for initiatives post-integration, ensuring mainstreaming of the tribal areas, and the establishment of health, education, and swift justice services, as well as the enforcement of law for sustainable peace in the region. According to him, extremist ideologies arise from deprivation and social alienation.

Project Director of Pir Roshan Institute North Waziristan, Dr. Jamil Ahmed Chitrali, delved into the role of academia, including various societal strata, in promoting and combating extremism within the virtual world. He stressed the need to foster patience, tolerance, and reasoned dialogue within society.

Dr Samiuddin, the head of the Department of Religious Studies at Edwardes College, spotlighted the historical context of religious extremism, highlighting its prevalence in Pakistani society.

He emphasized unity among different religions in countering extremism and sectarianism, engaging in conversations that bridge the gap.Dr. Samiuddin advocated for a balanced approach toward religious and worldly matters to curb the roots of extremism.

Director of the Islamic Research Institute, Professor Dr Zia-ul-Haq, shed light on the role of the Center of Excellence in Countering Violent Extremism in KP.He emphasized the need to engage the youth from tribal areas to create awareness. The director also called for patience and tolerance in countering terrorism and extremism.

Dr. Zia-ul-Haq emphasized the need to cultivate resilience in the younger generation, while also calling for the prevention of the promotion of extremist thinking through superficial information on social media.The researchers and professors in universities were urged to play a crucial role in researching titles related to extremism and contribute significantly to combating this global issue.