Moot calls for stronger inter-sect harmony

Religious scholars, academics, policymakers urge promotion of dialogue, research

LAHORE:

Religious scholars, policymakers and academics have stressed the need for promoting inter-sect harmony, tolerance and coexistence, while calling for stronger measures to counter extremism and hate speech in society.

The views were expressed at a roundtable conference titled "Inter-Sect Harmony and Countering Extremism," organised by the National Institute of Public Policy (NIPP) in Lahore.

Addressing the participants, NIPP Dean Dr Naveed Elahi said inter-sect harmony had become one of the most pressing requirements in the prevailing national and international environment.

He emphasized that Pakistan's stability and progress depended on overcoming sectarian divisions and fostering dialogue among different schools of thought.

"Educational and research institutions must provide platforms that discourage extremist thinking and promote peace and social cohesion," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Badshahi Mosque Imam Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad described Paigham-e-Pakistan as a historic national document that serves as a roadmap for peace and stability.

He urged authorities to incorporate its teachings into the educational curriculum to protect future generations from ideological confusion and extremism.

Former Council of Islamic Ideology member Maulana Zubair Ahmad Zaheer said no society could progress without eliminating sectarianism. He called upon religious leaders and institutions to promote messages of unity, respect and mutual understanding.

Council of Islamic Ideology member Dr Muhammad Shafiq Khan Pasruri highlighted the damaging effects of hate speech and provocative rhetoric, stressing the need for strict adherence to a code of conduct to preserve social harmony.

Other speakers, including Dr Zulfiqar Haider and Qazi Abdul Ghaffar Qadri, emphasized the importance of academic research, intellectual dialogue and collective efforts to counter extremist narratives and strengthen national unity.