MUHAMMAD SALEEM

LAHORE: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed his firm resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country by bringing all the miscreants and their facilitators to book with the help of ulema.

While speaking at a seminar at Jamia Naeemia on Saturday in connection with the 8th death anniversary of the religious scholar, Dr Sarfraz Hussain Naeemi, the premier urged religious scholars to present a counter narrative against extremist mindset to achieve the goal of peace and harmony in the country. “This narrative should be given to youth at educational institutions.” He asked the religious scholars to come forward to take this war to its logical end. He also called upon them to promote the soft image of Islam and peace. “Hate is being spread in the name of Islam not only in Pakistan but also in the world,” the PM said.

The PM said the present government initiated indiscriminate action against terrorists across the country. Though isolated incidents of terrorism are taking place, the government is determined to tracing out remnants of terrorists and their facilitators, he said.

He said the government will foil all conspiracies against the country through forging unity. “Ulema should play an effective role in promoting unity in society and dispel the false propaganda against the real teachings of Islam. Blood is being shed in the name of religion; you can solve this problem,” he said.

Nawaz said the PML-N government and ulema would collectively foil all attempts aimed at creating fissure in society. “We have fought the greatest war against terrorism in the world,” he said. He also said that ulema should reject arguments that terrorists propagate. “Terrorists have no religion.”

Referring to recent terrorist attacks in the country, the Prime Minister said these acts were facilitated by certain elements and the state would bring them to justice.

He appreciated the role played by Jamia Naeemia in promoting religious education. He also paid tribute to the late Mufti Naeemi.

“Islam teaches unity, harmony and brotherhood and there is a dire need for adopting these principles for a prosperous Islamic world.”

Other speakers also highlighted the services and thoughts of Dr Sarfraz Naeemi who was assassinated by Taliban in 2009 at Jamia Naeemia. Stringent measures were taken in and around Jamia Naeemia which caused problems to public and shopkeepers of the area. A group of students who were denied entry to the Jamia raised slogans of “Go Nawaz Go.” The shopkeepers also criticised police for closing down their businesses.

Meanwhile, the PM also addressed a ceremony in connection with digitization of police stations at the Punjab IG Police Office and pledged to provide people an effective, efficient and public-friendly police force equipped with state-of-the-art technology to face modern-day challenges.

The premier also appreciated all those officials who played their role in organizing, PSL final. He said those who were criticizing the PSL final must be held accountable by people.

He said reforms are the key to better functioning of institutions. The government had inherited broken roads, crippling load shedding durations and institutions suffering from corruption and inefficiency.

Nawaz appreciated the IT initiatives and police reception desks introduced in Punjab police. The front desks of all police stations will be linked to the centralized system for better functioning and proper monitoring, he added.

The PM urged the people to discourage those who are practicing politics of creating rift among Pukhtun, Punjabi, Sindhi and Mohajir. The successful holding of PSL has proved that Lahore, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi are brothers and united against terrorism, he said.

He said provision of justice to every citizen could be streamlined with improvements in the criminal justice system including the filing of First Information Report (FIR) and investigation process.

He expressed the resolve to provide justice to people through police reforms so that people’s complaints could be addressed at the earliest.

Addressing the ceremony, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif appreciated the reforms introduced in police system. He paid rich tributes to police personnel who rendered sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

He said the Prime Minister’s package for the families of martyred police personnel is being implemented successfully. The Terrorism Department was established in 2013 under the Prime Minister’s vision which played an effective role in countering terrorism.