Fighting terrorism: ‘Peace needed for prosperity’

Seminar participants back the offensive in North Waziristan.

LAHORE: “There can be no peace until terrorists are defeated. We fully support Operation Zarb-i-Azb in North Waziristan and stand by our armed forces,” National Peace Committee for Interfaith Harmony Pakistan (NPCIH) chairman Haji Amir Rasheed said on Tuesday.

He was speaking at the Pasban Watan Seminar for Peace, organised by the NPCIH at Alhamra Hall. The participants pledged to never forget the victims of the December 16, 2014, terrorist attack at Peshawar’s Army Public School (APS). Students and teachers from various private schools and religious scholars attended the seminar.

Nasira Batool, a private school teacher, said every Pakistani wanted peace in the country. “Teachers consider students as their own children. They help them become responsible citizens,” she said.

Batool said being a teacher she could understand the feelings of APS teachers following the terrorist attack. “Let us pledge today that we will remember the victims and arrange programmes to pay tributes to them on Pakistan Day, Defence Day, Quaid Day and Iqbal Day.”

Syed Waliullah Shah Bukhari stressed on the need for working together to make Pakistan a peaceful country.

“Killing a Muslim is forbidden… the blood of a Muslim is sacred,” he said.

Bukhari said Islam condemned terrorism in all its forms, including suicide attacks. He said he favoured the steps taken by the government to curb terrorism.

Zaeema Ismael, a student, urged the participants to work for peace. She said students throughout the country were ready to sacrifice their lives for Pakistan. She requested the government to make effective policies to bring about peace in the country.

The students presented several skits and tableaus including one about the APS attack.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2015.