KARACHI: While deliberating upon how to nurture peace in society, speakers at a penal discussion held on Sunday at a school said that education reforms with drastic changes on the curriculum were vital to tackle growing militancy and intolerance in society.

The event was part of the two-day I am Karachi — Teach for Peace conference organised by the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (Spelt) in support of the ongoing I am Karachi campaign.

“We need to think how some teachers in a madressah are able to motivate young children to take their own and a number of other’s lives. And, what is that we lack to inculcate tolerance, peace and love in our children?” renowned singer Tina Sani asked, looking at the audience comprising parents and teachers gathered in large numbers at the Dawood Public School (DPS), the venue for the conference.

“We need to see what is that we are not doing? We need to get into the people’s minds,” she remarked, leaving food for thought for the audience.

She, then, voiced her concerns over what she thought a lack of professionalism in the media and stressed the need for a code of ethics. “There are certain elements in every society which are needed to be respected else we would be facing the same situation as was in the case of Charlie Hebdo.

“Sometimes I look at people invited on TV channels and wonder how they have allowed them to speak,” she continued.

In reply to a question, she said that knowledge about history was important to understand the current situation and find solutions. Children should be made aware of history and equipped with the power to question.

Sharing his thoughts, seasoned artiste and teacher Khalid Ahmed said that the severe forms of militancy that the country faced today, especially what was happening in Karachi, could not be addressed by just having a desire for peace or talking big but by looking into the factors that led to this situation and taking concrete actions against those who were responsible.

“Right now, no one knows who is killing [innocent people] and at whose behest. The state, the media and the political parties, are not helping [people to understand the situation]. There is just helplessness,” he said, adding that citizens’ life was threatened by armed mafias and gangs.

According to Khalid, the civil society cannot counter militant narrative with its narrative because militants and gangsters financed by hidden powers are working on an agenda. Such elements do not believe in dialogue and it is the state responsibility to deal with them.

“We are living in a fool’s paradise if we say that we are living in a democracy. People have suffered so much in military and civil dictatorships that they have forgotten their basic fundamental rights,” he said.

Dr Haroon Ahmed, the president of the Mental Health Association of Pakistan and member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said that the reasons that had led the country to this deteriorated state could be traced into the country’s history that showed that there was massive use and abuse of religion for power.

Suggesting measures to bring peace, he said that there was a dire need for education reforms, upgrading status of teachers, holding extra-curricular activities in educational institutions and restoring student unions.

He also recommended that the government should open an educational TV channel.

Journalist Amir Zia supported military efforts and the establishment of military courts to effectively check terrorism in the country whereas Wajeeha Naqvi, an anthropologist, and Sabrina Dawood representing the DPS, called for individual and collaborative efforts to bring peace in the city.

Earlier in the morning, thought-provoking talks and interactive sessions were held to understand and develop skills differentiating various aspects of a problem and finding possible solutions.

The four themes discussed in these sessions were: facing challenges, teachers and parents as agents of peace, media for peace and richness in diversity.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2015

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