Report launch: ‘Religious scholars can help promote peace’

Religious scholars react positively to calls for dialogue.

ISLAMABAD:

Scholars, legal experts, policy advisors and think tanks agreed on engaging civil society members and religious scholars in a dialogue process to promote peace and harmony.

Speaking at the launch of the report “Engaging religious scholars for promotion of peace and harmony in society”, prepared by the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) here on Thursday, experts on the subject said the role of clergy can not be undermined.

“During our study we realised there was a gap between religious scholars and other segments of the society on multiple issues including radicalisation,” said PIPS director Amir Rana, adding that PIPS report was a consolidated document envisaging the entire dialogue process between various sectors of the society.

Advisor to Prime Minister Attaullah Shahab said that Pakistani society is going through a transitional period. “Some of these changes were expected while others are totally new and we are not ready for it, especially those related to religion.”

Dr Qibla Ayaz, the acting Vice-Chancellor of Peshawar University, also endorsed the idea of getting religious scholars on board for conflict resolution.

Calling for an immediate overhaul of outdated madrassahs’ syllabus, Ayaz said seminary teaching focuses on manipulating mindsets.

Advocate Supreme Court, Ahmer Bilal Sufi stressed on the need to educate madrassa students and religious scholars about the global laws and the UN charter. “Every citizen is bound to obey the treaty framework of international law,” he concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 16^th, 2012.