ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah has urged the people to develop positive attitude to defeat the extremist mindset.
While addressing a round table on “Culture of Tolerance: Reviving the Indigenous Narrative” held in Islamabad on Thursday, he said that media has to play a proactive role as the fourth pillar of the state in ending the tendency on intolerance from the society and promotion of tolerance.
Khursheed Shah urged media to discuss real national issues like economy, environment, water scarcity in the prime time shows. He said that we need to revive the policies of tolerance in politics. He said racism is biggest reason of intolerance in the society.
The opposition leader said that before 1977 Pakistan used to be a tolerant society where all lived peacefully. He said that tolerance was dependent on the political system of a country and dictatorial rules created the tendencies of intolerance.
Khursheed Shah said that continuation of democratic system was vital for ending the divisive mindset from the society and promote the culture of tolerance.
Former MNA Bushra Gohar said that the murder of Mishal Khan in Mardan University was a warning for the entire nation how narrow minded we have become. She said that some elements were maligning Malala Yousufzai.
MNA Aasia Nasir said that Pakistan was a peaceful society but due to certain reasons it was radicalized and incidents like Kot Radha Kishen, Gojra and Mardan University have become common.
Aasia Nasir said that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s speech in the constituent assembly on August 11, 1947 and his 14 points were the real national narrative. She said that Pakistan suffered after the nation had deviated from the teachings of the Quaid. She called for revolutionary changes in the educational curriculum which she opined was responsible for radicalization of the society.
Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader Saeed Mandokhail said that media should play constructive role and highlight positive developments of the society.
The Chairperson of National Institute of Cultural Studies (NICS) Rubina Khalid said that it was responsibility of all stakeholders to come forward and promote the real national narrative.
