Addressing a Friday congregation at Itikaf City, Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, Chairman of the MQI Supreme Council, has said that as long as extremism and radicalism continue to exist, wishing terrorism and militancy away will be an illusion. He said that the state of Pakistan will have to eradicate the menace of extremism through curriculum reforms and winning over the battles of hearts and minds. He said that even today, Pakistan’s topmost problem is terrorism, extremism and militancy.

Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri said that terrorism is our shared national challenge and the whole nation will have to forge unity in its ranks to get rid of this menace in a comprehensive manner. He said that a revision of syllabi taught in educational institutions and religious seminaries is inevitable, stating that curriculum needs to be connected with the teachings of tolerance, love and peace. He said that every Muslim will have to promote the teachings of love and peace based on the commandments of the Holy Prophet (SAW), and create the capacity to listen to an opposite view with forbearance.

The Chairman Supreme Council said that it is not enough to demonstrate tolerance and moderation outside of home. Rather these attitudes need to be adopted and promoted at the level of the self, family and relatives. He said that whatever society we may belong to, and whichever profession we may be in, it is the all the more important that our conduct is a source of peace and positivity for people around us. We should respect others irrespective of their caste, creed and colour and stay away from any kind of fight, and mischief, stating that every citizen is duty bound to inculcate these qualities for the construction of a healthy society.

Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri also spelled out a set of actions that need to be adopted at the level of society to stem extremism and terrorism. He said that it is the responsibility of the state to shut down fatwa-churning factories. He said that Mosque is a centre to promote love, harmony and peace and if anyone violates the sanctity of holy places and uses them to project his/her ulterior, partisan agenda, the state must come forward without any reservation and assert itself wholly. He further said that citizens can also play their role to promote goodness and peace in the society they live in. They should be careful while giving their donations and charities, making sure that they are given to individuals and organizations with established credentials who cannot be doubted for their misuse.