Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information and Culture, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, said that the promotion of cultural activities is paramount for the establishment of peace and bringing tolerance in the society. Addressing at a cultural programme organised by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Culture Department in collaboration with Hunerkadda College of Arts Islamabad, he said the peace is considering as stir for progressive and development in the society.
The Secretary Culture Azmat Hanif Orakzai, Director Hunerkadda College of Arts Islamabad Jamal Shah and Director Culture Pervez Khan were also present on this occasion, Mian Iftikhar said that the culture should be taken in consonance with the religion, which should not be seen in isolation. "We are a peace-loving people and believe in non-violence and hate violence and coercive method," he maintained.
He regretted that Pakhtun have been checkmated between super powers and unfortunately the image of Pakhtun is wrongly portrayed which has become a threat for the survival of Pakhtuns as a nation. Mian Iftikhar said that the most regrettable aspect of the whole episode is that the innocent Pakhtuns are being deceived in the name of Islam. He said that our emotional attachment to art is not artificial. We love our culture and it is a matter of life and death for us and we are doing politics for serving our people. He said, during the last 30 years or more, our culture is wilfully targeted to eliminate us as a nation, he maintained.