NIPP Hosts Roundtable on Interfaith Harmony and Countering Extremism
The National Institute of Public Policy (NIPP) organized a roundtable conference titled “Interfaith Harmony and Countering Extremism” in Lahore, aiming to propose practical measures for promoting peace, tolerance, and coexistence in society. Dean of NIPP Dr. Naveed Elahi delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the critical need for interfaith dialogue in the current national and international context.
Dr. Naveed Elahi stated, “In the current national and international context, interfaith harmony is the most pressing need of the time. For Pakistan’s survival and stability, it is essential to avoid division into sects and groups. It is the duty of educational and research institutions to provide platforms where dialogue can block the path of extremist thinking and lay the foundation for peace and stability in society.”
Religious Scholars Endorse Paigham-e-Pakistan as National Narrative
Khateeb of Badshahi Mosque, Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad, highlighted the significance of Paigham-e-Pakistan, calling it a historic and consensus document that guarantees peace and order. He urged, “The time has come to make this national narrative part of the formal educational curriculum to promote it, so that our future generations remain protected from ideological discord.”
Former member of the Council of Islamic Ideology, Maulana Zubair Ahmed Zaheer, stressed that no society can progress without eliminating sectarianism. He said, “All schools of thought must respect each other’s existence and beliefs, and only the message of love and unity should be spread from the pulpit.”
Hate Speech Termed as Termite Eating Society’s Peace
Member of the Council of Islamic Ideology, Dr. Muhammad Shafiq Khan Pasrori, condemned provocative speech and hate-filled sermons, describing them as termites eating away at societal peace. He called for strict enforcement of a code of conduct to prevent activities that cause hurt to others.
Secretary General of Research Center Jamia Uruwa al-Wuthqa, Dr. Zulfiqar Haider, emphasized that countering extremism requires deep academic research and intellectual dialogue, not just speeches. He said, “We must present scholarly arguments at the academic level that will protect youth from misguidance.”
Zero-Tolerance Policy and Grassroots Expansion of Paigham-e-Pakistan
Qazi Abdul Ghaffar Qadri stated, “Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance, love, and brotherhood. We must take all segments of society along and eliminate the distances that extremist elements exploit for their own benefit through mutual understanding.”
At the conclusion, participants unanimously reaffirmed the need for a zero-tolerance policy against incitement and called for expanding the scope of “Paigham-e-Pakistan” to the grassroots level. Senior Research Associate Ms. Bushra Bashir and Research Associate Ms. Ishrat Akhtar organized the conference. Additional Secretary Auqaf Ms. Nabeela Javed briefed participants on Punjab Government initiatives. Former Vice Chancellor of Punjab University Dr. Khalid Mahmood also attended. Dr. Naveed Elahi thanked the speakers and assured that their recommendations would be forwarded to the higher government level for policy formulation. Commemorative shields were presented to distinguished guests.
