Dr Maleeha Lodhi calls for comprehensive planning to prevent violent extremism

Pakistan’s Ambassador at the United Nations Dr Maleeha Lodhi has called for comprehensive planning to stop violent extremism throughout the world.

Addressing a debate on the strategy for prevention of violent extremism at the UN General Assembly in New York, she said that injustice and economic deprivation are major causes of extremism.

She said that indigenous and external factors promote extremism and terrorism in the society. She said that terrorists exploit lack of right to self-determination and injustice for their nefarious designs and said that factions inciting violence should not be ignored.

She said that out of 20 points of the National Action Plan (NAP) in Pakistan, eight points are related to eradication of extremism. She said that deliberate vilification of other religions and cultures for political gains was unfortunate.