Rashid stresses need for countering extremism through education

Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said on Wednesday that extremism and terrorism, the biggest enemies the country faces, can be countered through education.

Addressing a Christmas event held at the Rawalpindi Arts Council, the federal minister spoke about the lynching and brutal murder of Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara, who worked as the manager of a local factory in Sialkot. He said that incident has shamed the entire nation, adding that before this, not once did the world perceive Pakistan as an extremist country during the past 74 years.

“If we don’t have tolerance for others in our hearts, our love wouldn’t be pure and our lives would be useless,” he added.

Rasheed mentioned the services of the Christian community, saying that they had more contributions to the country than any other community.

Recalling a past statement, he reiterated that he has never seen a Christian beg or resort to terrorism regardless of how dire the circumstances are. He once again called on the Christian community to work for the country with utmost dedication. “This country still needs you,” he added.

The federal minister said that Pakistan can counter extremism through education. He said that societies are now recognized on the basis of their education and if more universities are formed and girls are educated, nobody would be able to steer Pakistan towards extremism.

Felicitating the community on Christmas, he told the community to celebrate it with zeal. He said that he was pleased to be able to attend the celebrations this year, adding that although there was a high-level meeting presided over by the prime minister, he was still able to make it there. He also quoted a verse from the Bible, which he said he remembers from his school days.

At the end of the event, the minister distributed presents among the children and participated in the cake-cutting ceremony.

The event was attended by Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Narcotics Control Sheikh Rashid Shafique and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Deputy Secretary General for Rawalpindi Division Arif Abbasi.