SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
Today Pakistan’s survival is at stake and the threat to its existence comes from the unabated terrorism and militancy. Scholar and experts have time and again advised government to take steps to change the mindset that makes someone vulnerable to terrorism and the best way is to change the syllabus by including a major chunk about tolerance, love and harmony. One thing that is very positive is that there is a realisation for the first time in the mainstream parties and the establishment that in order to put an end to terrorism, extremism has also to be eradicated. Pakistan as visualised by its founding father was to be a modern, pluralist democracy practising Islamic values of tolerance and social welfare. The Sindh government’s recent commitment to introduce the Quaid’s August 11 address in the school curriculum is another historic decision by the province. The address remains an unambiguous and solid counter-narrative against extremism and in support of moderation. The move should encourage the governments in other provinces to follow the example. The speech which is spread over nearly four pages has to be treated as a special chapter and taught to students when they are at the formative stage.
The decision by the Sindh government to include the speech in its entirety in the school curriculum is a laudable one, for the Pakistani state through the years has made religion very much its business — often with distressing results. Official patronage of right-wing elements has led to a situation where religious extremism has become an ever-present spectre, fracturing society along the fault lines of faith. Its impact is even being felt in Sindh, the cradle of a benign and inclusive Sufi tradition. While Sindh has taken the lead in reclaiming its pluralistic heritage through the classroom — much of its primary school curriculum has been purged of divisive, prejudiced material — the other provinces would do well to emulate its example.
Also it is time for Pakistan Muslim League to take steps to promote what their founding father said. It is the right time for PML-N to make its position clear on Quaid’s address.
pakistan.shafaqna.com
