Scholars discuss role of minorities in conflict resolution

British India based their control on playing minorities of their pluralistic nationalism

KARACHI: The Vice-Chancellor of the Karachi University (KU) Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that the situation of minorities is much better in Pakistan, as compared to other countries in the Subcontinent.

He expressed these views in his address to participants in a day-long international conference on 'Role of minorities in conflict resolution and peace in South Asia,' organised by KU in collaboration with South Asia Research Institute for Minorities and Office of Research Innovation and Commercialisation, on Wednesday at a local hotel.

Scholars from the United States of America, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal shed light on the issue besides presenting their research papers.



Dr Iraqi told the audience that the entire world needs to learn a lesson of peace and of protecting the rights of minorities from the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern. Her swift implementation of pragmatic measures to console her country's Muslim community after the Christchurch mosques attack was exemplary.

Adjunct Professor, Dr Amrik Singh pointed out that the problem of South Asian countries lies is their incapability to comprehend their colonial past and build a political system that provides opportunities to all its citizens so that they realise their full potential. British India based their control on playing up religious, cultural, ethnic, and caste dissensions to deprive minorities of their pluralistic nationalism.  

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2019.