WASHINGTON: Pakistani civil society and political leadership should join hands to face off the current challenges collectively and ensure safety and economic well being of the people, who are paying a heavy price in the fight against violent extremism, a former Pakistani minister and scholars said.
At an event, arranged by a Virginia-based organization 'The Commongrounds', visiting former Pakistani minister Syed Munir Hussain Gilani expressed satisfaction that the country has a democratic government at this important juncture.
"Now that we have democracy we need two things - first is continuity in policies and the other is unity --- we must rise above political affiliations and work toward solidarity and economic security of the country," Gilani, who served as minister of state for education, said.
Dr Malik Sakhawat Hussain, a New Jersey-based scholar and head of Al-Mahdi Foundation, said the Pakistani nation needs to put behind all differences and work with the same spirit to ensure solidarity and integrity of Pakistan as the generation that founded the country.
"We have to work for tolerance, moderation and a peaceful society as envisioned by our founding fathers - we have to launch a coordinated movement to that end," he added.
Dr Zulfiqar Kazmi, host and head of The Commongrounds - an organization working to promote inter-faith undersanding and harmony, said Pakistan has been blessed with tremendous natural wealth and talented people.
"The task before intelligentsia and political leadership is to find ways to rally people for the single-minded cause of the betterment of the country."
The event was attended by Dr. Muhammad Ayyub Khan, Assistant Professor at Shenandoah University, Syed Zulfiqar Hussain Shah, Agha Jalil Durani,Sajjad Baloch, Jawad H. Sherazi, PPP Representative, Syed Gilani and community activists.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011
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