Islamabad, July 29: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi has said that Pakistan stands today at the most critical juncture of its history and a wave of violent acts in the form of suicide attacks, bomb blasts, sabotage activities, attacks on security personal and state installations is sweeping across the country.
He was addressing an international conference on “De-radicalization and Engagement of Youth in Pakistan “organized by Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) here today.
Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi said that last year a total number 6715 persons including 2155 civilians, 654 security personal and 3906 militants were killed in various acts of terrorism and suicide attacks.
The Minister said that now the terrorists are employing sophisticated methods and means of Communication.
He said that terrorists are trying to ignite Sectarian strife and ethnic conflicts and started attacking the worship places of rival sects.
The Minister said that the terrorists have been defeated in Swat and action is being taken against them in other parts of the FAT.
The Minister said that the extremists and terrorists are now recruiting youngsters for suicide attacks. He said that the enticement of youngsters to join groups of suicide bombers is the most serious challenge before us.The problem of extremists and terrorism is, therefore, closely linked with our political, economic and social system.
The Minister said that education can play the most critical role to help the youth get rid of extremists and radical ideas.
Mr.Kazmi said that the present government has doubled the budgetary allocation for education and health for the current financial year. Prime Minister Yusaf Raza Gilani has recently announced that education and health sectors are to top priority before the present government.
The Minister appreciated the role of Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) and Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) of Germany to organize this Conference. Dr.Rashid, Dr. Maqsoodul Hassan and Richard Asbeck, Resident Representative of Hanns Seidel Foundation, Islamabad also spoke on this occasion.
-Agencies