Poets, sufis, labourers represent country, not extremists: Gen Zubair

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat Monday said extremists did not represent Pakistan rather poets, sufis, labourers, workers, and others were its true representatives.
Pakistan did not belong to a single person or institution as it was the country of every one, he said while addressing a seminar on "Nationalism and Pakistaniat" organised by Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) here at Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS). The seminar was attended by a large number of students of public and private sector universities, according to a press release.
General Zubair Hayat said the concept of 'Pakistaniat' was incomplete without the Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal, who were the force and spirit behind its creation. Pakistan's strength was its civilization as the nation was the most resilient and charity giving one in the world. Some three percent of the country's gross domestic product was given in charity, he added.
He asked the students to be proud of them by becoming the 'Shaheen' (eagle) of Allama Iqbal as there was nothing they could not achieve in life.
PICSS Director General Major General Saad Khattak (retd) said militancy had increased in the world during the last 15 years and the world militaries could not win the war against terrorism. However, the story of Pakistan regarding war against terrorism was quite different, he said, adding, "We as a nation suffered immensely and made unprecedented sacrifices but were able to eradicate the menace. Our military was able to flush out militants from the Pakistani territory to such an extent that there is no organized presence of militants in the country." The huge success in the war against terrorism was not due to a single institution, rather it was a joint effort of the whole nation, he said.
Roshan Khursheed Barocha said, "Pakistan had given us everything and now it is our turn to return the favour to it."
Renowned Karate champion Shahida Abbas said behind every successful and developed nation, there were hardworking youth. She said that despite odds, she through hard work was eventually able to achieve her aim. She advised the students and youth to believe in their abilities to achieve goals.
Motivational Speaker Faizan Hassan said the youth had the potential to compete not only at national level but also at international level. He advised students and youth first to have a clear vision and then work to achieve it. Ex-Senator Robina Irfan highlighted the importance of women in national growth and development. She said the women of Pakistan in general and Balochistan in particular were capable to prove themselves in every field of life.