Curbing terrorism- a dialogue – ‘Poverty, lack of education, injustice breed terrorism’

ISLAMABAD – Speakers on Monday stressed that government must focus on eradication of root causes of extremism and terrorism including poverty, lack of education, unemployment and injustice, in order to bring normalcy in the country. They said after the military operations in different tribal areas there was dire need to make immediate plan for the abolishment of poverty, illiteracy, injustice, unemployment and unresolved political disputes because all the elements collectively give birth to extremism and terrorism.
These views were expressed at a conference called Wipe out Root Cause of Terrorism, arranged by Individualland a non governmental organisation. “We need to fight against the causes of extremism and educate people who have soft corner for the Taliban or militants”, a press statement issued here quoted the speakers as saying. Gulmina Bilal Executive Director of Individualland presided over the meeting. Ehtisham Waheed, Fahad ul Hassan, Ahmad Mukhtar, Zulfiqar, Shaukat Ali Ashraf and people from different walks of life participated in the discussion. They said that there is a need to bring harmony in equity and wealth.
“Islam proposes an economic system which provides harmony in wealth and equity,” they said. Speakers said that rulers also needs to clear miss-perceptions among the Muslims that Islam was being targeted, while the West felt that Islam is a religion of militancy, extremism and intolerance. Speakers said that like any religion Islam preaches moderation, justice and equality and does not preach extremism and militancy.” “Islam does not profess hatred or militancy and is not in conflict with democracy and modernism’, they said.
They said that military has conducted successful operation against extremists but it not necessary for our leader needs to rely on the use of forces alone. “Our leaders need to start active working for discovering ways and means to curb the causes of extremists and terrorism in the country”, they said.