Khalil Tahir Sundhu, the provincial minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs, said on Tuesday that a summary had been moved to introduce human rights education in all districts for the authorities concerned. He was addressing a dialogue titled Pakistan Peace Initiative and Provincial Visions of Peace organised by the Punjab University Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS) and Search for Common Ground.
He said given Pakistan’s current situation intra-faith harmony was more important than inter-faith harmony. He said it was citizens’ responsibility to accept differences and play an important role in the development of Pakistan.
Dean of the Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences Zakaria Zakar said that although Pakistan was facing problems, the country had the capacity to resolve these issues. He said the current problem was not of law and order, but a political and social problem that could not be resolved through arms and ammunition alone. He said universities needed to organise dialogues for intellectual debate and suggestions. He said the government should take all stakeholders’ perspectives into account.
Professor Muhammad Hafeez said that if justice was provided at all levels in society, the country’s problems would be eliminated automatically. Parliamentary Secretary Mian Naveed Ali said citizens should not think of themselves as Punjabis, Sindhis, Pathans or Baloch but as Pakistani. South Asia Partnership Pakistan Executive Director Muhammad Tahseen said the government must provide people with education, health, jobs and housing. He said peace would then follow.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2014.