Prominent jurists, thinkers, journalists, analysts and academics have stressed the need for unity and harmony among various sections of society to meet the challenges external and internal debt, law and order, increasing poverty, growing population and unemployment, depleting natural resources including water, distrust between political parties and national institutions and external threats.
They were speaking in a seminar organised by the think tank Pakistan Institute of National Affairs PINA and Centre for South Asian Studies University of the Punjab on "Internal stability and the strengthening of independence".
Chief Guest former judge of the Supreme Court former justice Faqeer Muhammad Khokar spoke about the centre province relations. He said Quaid-e-Azam was always very sensitive about these relations. He was convinced that without abolishing religious, social and economic exploitation, no society can stand united.
Former VC University of Sargodha, Prof Dr Akram Choudhry warned about the nefarious designs of the anti-Muslim forces towards disintegration of the Military power of Muslim states. They are eyeing at Pakistan after weakening of Syria, Egypt and Iraq. He emphasized the need for the education of modern subjects in the religious schools. It would result in the religious harmony. The adoption of uniform syllabus will bring national unity.
Altaf Hasan Qureshi Secretary General of PINA emphasized that that the narrow mindedness of the Hindu community paved the way for the establishment of Pakistan. The Hindu majority was hell bent upon eliminating cultural heritage of the Muslims. Doors of economic prosperity were closed on the Muslims. It was the courageous leadership of the Quaid-e-Azam that brought freedom for the Muslims through a democratic struggle. Pakistan had to face numerous problems in its early years. The father of the nation in his speech of 11 August especially highlighted the diseases that had crept into Muslim Society. It included Nepotism, Bribery & Provincialism. They created great challenges of internal stability and coherence for the state of Pakistan. Power tussle, religious extremism, class struggle and imbalance in civil military relations are the great challenges of today's Pakistan.
Senior lawyer and politician Ehsan Wyne stressed the need to augment internal stability and coherence. All the state institutions should work in their stipulated domains. Major Eraj Zikriya (retd) said political parties should bring internal democracy within their cadres. Senior Analyst Yasin Watoo urged the need for the upholding high moral values for the national coherence and stability. Senior journalist Rauf Tahir was of the view that Political Parties should be given level playing field and free and fair chance to work. Qayyum Nizami spoke for the national reconciliation by Imran Khan as the new premier.