National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq Tuesday termed Baroness Saeeda Warsi, former cabinet minister and UK’s Conservative Party chairperson, as “Muslim women’s role-model and a bridge between the East and the West”.
The speaker made these remarks during a call-on by the visiting British Member of the House of Lords on him in his chambers. He stressed that leaders like Warsi had an important role to play in portraying the true image of Islam as a progressive and forward-looking message. He called for a continued dialogue between civilizations and urged the Baroness to lead the course.
The two leaders shared views on the rise of extremism and in this regard, Sadiq briefed the baroness on Operation Zarb-e-Azb and the enactment of the 21st Amendment. He said establishment of the military courts was sanctioned by the Parliament keeping in view the gruesome attack on school children in Peshawar, which had left the nation with little choice.
Strongly condemning the Peshawar carnage and the subsequent terrorist attacks, the baroness praised the resolve of the Pakistani nation and said that she had found the Pakistani nation on one page in combating terrorism.
She agreed with the speaker that in such critical moments the world community must support Pakistan’s democratic government in its fight for global security. Referring to her interaction with the youth in Lahore, baroness said it was heartening to see the political awakening of youth. She said that democracy is ever evolving process so it is time for all sides of the political divide to show maturity to built systems.
