KARACHI: Participants of a forum held here recently have maintained that combating violent extremism was the responsibility of all.
Those societies hold prestigious position globally that are characterized by peace, mutual respect, and tolerance. However, global wars and economic and political instability have fostered violent extremism in today’s societies. This complex and destructive trend, marked by extreme attachment to beliefs or ideologies, often leads to violence and aggression, with far-reaching consequences for society.
Extremism takes various forms, including political, religious, nationalist, and ethnic extremism. It can manifest within groups or individuals, leading to violence, discrimination, and terrorism. The causes of extremism are complex and multifaceted, with possible factors including economic inequality and social injustice. When people feel treated unfairly or economically disadvantaged, they may gravitate towards extremist groups that offer easy solutions to their problems.
Similarly, political instability and conflict can create fertile ground for extremism. When people feel unsafe or that their rights are threatened, they may turn to extremist groups that promise safety and protection. Those ostracized or discriminated against may gravitate towards extremist groups for a sense of acceptance and belonging. Additionally, personal experiences or psychological factors, such as trauma, abuse, or mental health problems, can drive some individuals towards extremism.
Extremist groups often use violence and discrimination to further their goals, harming individuals and communities and creating a climate of fear and insecurity. Extremism divides and destabilizes society, breeding mistrust and hostility between different groups and weakening governments and other institutions. Violence and instability foster extremism, hurt businesses, and lead to economic crises, discouraging investment and hindering economic development at individual, community, and national levels. Combating extremism is challenging, but violent extremism can be countered through coordinated efforts at the government and community levels.
Governments and institutions must address issues such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of access to education and healthcare. International cooperation is essential to promote peaceful conflict resolution and build strong democratic institutions. In developed societies, various organizations actively work at the public level to foster tolerance and compassion. They organize seminars, workshops, and other events to promote these values.
In this connection a discussion was organized at Karachi Press Club in collaboration with the Search for Common Ground, Aurat Foundation and Women Peace Architects, where scholars, journalists, intellectuals and members of the parliament discussed in detail the challenges and the possible solution to this menace which is eating the very base of our society.
Participants of the forum included MPA, Sindh from Minority community, Dr. Sham Sunder Advani, Dr. Umair Mahmood Siddiqui from the Department of Islamic Studies, University of Karachi, social activist and journalist Naseem Sheikh, well-known journalist and president of the Karachi Press Club, Saeed Sarbazi, journalist Shams ul Wahid, anchorperson Sana Hashmi and people from various fields.
Saeed Sarbazi
President Karachi Press Club
Saeed Sarbazi, said “stopping “Stopping extremism in any form is the joint responsibility of all of us. The state, much like a mother, holds the responsibility of providing education, healthcare, and employment”.
He said the situation in our society on extremism is disappointing. Unfortunately, it is evident that the vision of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, has been neglected. The state, much like a mother, has the responsibility to provide education, healthcare, and employment. Regarding mental training, he noted that the true teachings of Islam are not being followed here. Ironically, it is often said that if someone wants to practice being a good Muslim in society, they should go to a non-Muslim country.
Umair Mahmood Siddiqui
Professor, Department of Islamic Studies University of Karachi
Dr. Umair Mahmood Siddiqui believes that extremism manifests in various forms, such as religious extremism, secular extremism, and political extremism. He attributes the main cause of this to a lack of justice, as the state has yet to punish any criminals, leading to widespread mental stress in society. This stress ultimately results in extremism.
He further noted that extremism is increasing in universities, highlighting the urgent need for student counseling. This counseling should encourage critical thinking until the behavior of teachers improves, allowing them to listen to students’ questions and provide satisfactory answers to clarify their understanding.
Dr. Siddiqui also criticized the media’s role in educating society, arguing that it often spreads sensational content, citing the example of the Qindeel Baloch incident. He emphasized the need to convey the message that Islam teaches love and peace.
Sana Hashmi
Journalist and Anchorperson
Anchorperson Sana Hashmi, who was the stage secretary during the debate, addressed the issue of violent extremism. She pointed out that in Pakistan, people are targeted in the name of blasphemy, yet no Christian or Hindu has ever insulted a Muslim. Referring to the Sargodha incident, she emphasized the importance of understanding our religion first.
Naseem Sheikh
Chief Editor Sindh Amar, Social Activist
Senior female journalist Naseem Shaikh emphasized the necessity of taking effective measures to combat extremism. She highlighted that Islam emphasizes humanity and love, and the Qur’an teaches the importance of respecting other religions alongside one’s own. She emphasized that Islam does not promote bias or disorder, and cruelty and excess are not condoned in any religion. She questioned why, despite ongoing searches, those responsible for acts of insolence have not been punished yet.
Naseem Shaikh also noted the differing attitudes between scholars and the general public. She pointed out discrepancies among scholars of different sects, where one scholar issues one fatwa while another issues a conflicting one, leading to confusion among the general populace and contributing to chaos.
Discussing the foundational values of society, she highlighted the crucial role of women in fostering peace within society, describing them as the bearers of moral character, akin to a “Candle Mafia.”
Shams al-Wahid
Senior journalist and columnist
Taking part in the discussion, Shams al-Wahid emphasized that violent extremism cannot be tolerated in any form, and every member of society should actively work to eradicate it. He highlighted that Islam promotes values of peace, love, compassion, and sacrifice. Shams al-Wahid expressed disappointment that in our society, there are no proactive measures at the government level to eliminate extremism; instead, actions are taken reactively after incidents occur, such as rounding up people or issuing statements. He stressed the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions.
Dr. Sham Sundar Adwani
MPA Sindh Assembly
Dr. Sham Sunder Adwani, a member of the Sindh Assembly representing the minority community, expressed appreciation for the discussion and emphasized the importance of protecting minority rights in Pakistan. He called for thorough investigations into incidents to ensure genuine accountability and better address their community’s concerns.
Dr. Adwani further highlighted the widespread advocacy against daily incidents of violence across various platforms. He highlighted the forum’s purpose to critically examine societal issues and propose comprehensive solutions for practical implementation.
Other participants in the discussion emphasized the role of women as peacebuilders, equating their presence with promoting peace in any setting. They called for active involvement of women in eradicating violent extremism from society. Despite widespread discussions on interfaith harmony and dialogue to counter religious extremism, participants noted significant gaps in translating these discussions into effective practices within the existing system.
Member of the Assembly representing the minority community in the Sindh Assembly, Dr. Sham Sunder Adwani, while appreciating the discussion, said that the minority community has a lot of protection in Pakistan. In addition, to properly investigate accidents and ensure that those responsible are truly punished, and their problems can be better addressed.
He further said that the voice is being raised in every forum regarding the reduction of daily incidents of violence. The purpose of this forum was to have a unique discussion on this subject, which would look at the evils in the society. I had to bring and find a comprehensive solution to them and examined how it could be implemented in practice.
Other participants of the discussion said that women are peace builders whose presence anywhere is equated with peace. Women should play an active role in eliminating violent extremism from the society. Wherever there is talk of peace in the country, there is extremism. Love is also not separate from it. There is a lot of talk about interfaith harmony dialogue and understanding to counter religious extremism, but when it comes to putting it into practice, there are many loop holes in the system.
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