Govt forms body to counter hate narrative

The government on Wednesday unveiled a new peace committee aimed at expanding the narrative-building efforts, and assumed the chair of a key regional anti-terror body as part of a broader strategy to counter terrorism, extremism, and hate-speech.

The Information Ministry announced the creation of the Qaumi Paigham-e-Aman Committee, a sub-body of the National Committee on Narrative Building. The committee is tasked with crafting a unified national narrative against extremism, terrorism, sectarianism, and hate speech.

Chaired by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, the body includes religious scholars, senior government officials and minority representatives.

Notable members are Senator Abdul Karim, Mufti Rahim, Allama Arif Wahidi, Pir Naqeebur Rehman, Allama Hussain Akbar, Dr Raghib Naeemi, Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, Maulana Tayyab Panjpiri, Allama Ziaullah Bukhari, Bishop Azad Marshall, Rajesh Kumar Hardasani, and Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora.

The coordinators of provincial and regional peace committees, representatives of recognised madrassa boards, additional secretaries from the ministries of interior and religious affairs, and the Director General of Religious Education will also serve.

The Director General of the Internal Publicity Wing of the Information Ministry will act as secretary of the committee. The committee's first meeting will finalise the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for approval by the National Committee on Narrative Building.