ISLAMABAD: Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly Speaker Shah Ghulam Qadir has stressed the need for forging unity in order to thwart nefarious designs of the enemy and establish peace and ensure stability in the country. “Pakistan is a great gift by Allah Almighty to us and we all are obliged to protect it against all odds,” he said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of a workshop titled Reconstruction of Inclusive Islamic Society in Pakistan held at AJK University, Muzaffarabad. The event was organised in collaboration with the Islamic Research Institute, Islamic International University Islamabad and was attended by a huge number of faculty members, ulema, scholars, civil society activists and students. Addressing the ceremony, which was organised as part of the Paigham-e-Pakistan initiative of the government, the AJK speaker said religious groups have a big role to play in the society. “The joint decree issued by ulema belonging to all schools of thought under the Paigham-e-Pakistan initiative is a guarantee to peace and stability in the country,” he said. “Mosques should be strengthened and should act as centres of training for the youth,” he said, adding that those criticising the religious seminaries are oblivious of the fact that these madaris are providing shelter, food and education to hundreds of thousands of poor children. “Providing jobs to youth graduating from these madaris is the responsibility of the state,” he said. “The state cannot discriminate between those graduating from universities and the ones getting education from madaris,” he said. The AJK speaker said Pakistan Army is the most organised institution in the country at present as the sacrifices of security forces in the ongoing war against terrorism are unprecedented. “But, it is unfortunate that we expect the Army to fulfill each and every responsibility that the state needs to do instead,” he said, adding the resolution of Kashmir issue is guarantee to peace in the country as well as the whole region. The AJK speaker also called upon religious scholars to forge unity among their ranks. “Ulema and masses got united in Bangladesh for the sake of development of their country, which resulted in growth and progress there,” he said, adding that extremism can bring no good to anyone. “Paigham-e-Pakistan decree has declared suicide bombing forbidden. University professors and doctors are waging jihad against India in occupied Kashmir and offering their lives for many decades but still there is no suicide bombing there,” he said. IRI Director General Dr Ziaul Haq said a nation decays when its leadership is not able to take right decisions at the right time. “The people whom Pakistan provided refuge in the name of Islam are out to destroy it now. The people who were exiled by their own countries but embraced by Pakistan started damaging it through terrorist acts on the behest of hostile agencies. Our youth was misguided. Mosques, madaris, schools and public places were bombed,” he said, adding that prompt action by the country’s military leadership resulted in peace and stability in the country. “Paigham-e-Pakistan is a document wherein religious scholars belonging to all schools of thought have rejected extremism and terrorism in all its forms. Suicide bombings have been declared forbidden in it,” he said, adding that minorities are free to spend their lives according to their will and practice their religion. “Islam makes it obligatory for the men to respect women and giving them due rights,” he added. Faculty of Arts Dean Professor Ayesha Sohail said social imbalances give rise to divisions in a society. “Today’s generation lacks tolerance. Sectarianism has shaken the very foundation of our society,” she said, adding that it is the collective responsibility of the educational institutions and the faculty members to train youth on positive lines. “Only tolerance, unity and brotherhood can guarantee peace and stability in the society,” she said. Convener of the workshop Professor Nisar Hamdani said, “We must protect our values to rid the country of injustice, fear and crisis. Prejudices give birth to sectarianism and ethnic divisions. Everyone wishes justice and prosperity in the society and the State is responsible to ensure it.” The two-day workshop will be followed by National Youth Conference, a workshop on Role of Youth in Reconstruction of National Culture, a session on Role of Youth as Ambassadors of Peace and a discussion on Environmental Challenges – Water Crises, Clean and Green Pakistan. Published in Daily Times, October 17th 2018.