Daily Times

KARACHI: Civil society activists and political parties’ representatives have demanded at a joint consultation meeting here to provide political, economic, social, cultural and spiritual rights to all citizens as ensured in the Constitution and bring reforms in the entire criminal justice system to end extremism in the society.

Convened by Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) and Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, on Saturday the meeting discussed at length the situation arising after the recent terrorists attacks across the country including deadly attack at Mazar of Sufi saint Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar at Sehwan.

Representatives of political parties included Dr. Arif Alvi of PakistanTahrik-e-Insaf, Ali Raza Abidi and Ms. Samar Jafery from Muttahida Quomi Movement (MQM), Mazhar Rahoojo of Qomi Awami Tahrik. From the civil society organisations Karamat Ali, Executive Director of PILER; former Chief of Citizens Police Liaison Committee Nazim F. Haji; Presidentm Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi Ahmed Shah; Editor of daily Awami Awaz Dr. Ayoub Shaikh; senior lawyer and human rights activist Javed Qazi, senior columnist and analysist Muqtida Mansoor Khan, senior trade union leaders Habibuddin Junaidi, Shafiq Ghauri, Shaikh Majeed, Jalil Shah; Jamil Junejo from Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF); Zulfiqar Shah, Joint Director of PILER; human rights activists Asad Iqbal Butt, Munir Memon, Adam Malik, Noor Memon, Muzaffar Memon, Paryal Mari and others.

The participants expressed deep concern over growing religious extremism in Pakistan and government’s failure to contain it. They underlined the need to have a campaign for mass mobilization of the general public to end the menace of extremism from the society.

“We must not compromise on the rule of law and due process while taking action against terrorists,” a demand came out from the meeting. Extra judicial killings by the state institutions are unacceptable at any cost.

“We have to tell the state apparatus that it is the violating the law and Constitution by killing the people indiscriminately without following law and due process after each terrorist attack. “They can be terrorists, but they need to be brought before the law.” Concerted efforts are required to change the current prosecution, judicial and police system.

“We are still using 1862 Police law, which was formulated to control people especially after 1857 mutiny in India,” a participant said adding that Police system must be strengthened by providing training and equipment to police. Oversight of the state institutions is a must. There was a consensus in the meeting that a counter-narrative must be made by civil society at a large and every section of the society must be mobilized to end terrorism.

Hate speech and material must be completely banned. A universal definition of hate speech is already there and Supreme Court of Pakistan has further elaborated it, so it must be implemented strictly, a demand came out. The curriculum being taught in the school must be changed as the current syllabus in the school is supporting a particular narrative which further add to extremism in the society.