ISLAMABAD: A study by Pakistan Institute of Policy Studies (PIPS) on Tuesday suggested that to counter violent extremism a nation-wide dialogue forum should be established that would include religious scholars with diverse thoughts to discuss critical issues.

“The prevailing narrative is too narrow, helping not only religious extremists but militants as well to derive their strength from religious justifications. Even the day-to-day discourse reeks of sectarianism,” the study said.

Titled ‘Reconstruction of the National Narratives and Counter-Violent Extremism Model for Pakistan,’ the study has proposed that one way to revise this narrative is by establishing a national dialogue.

PIPS has suggested for actively engaging religious scholars and it has been suggested that to counter the militants it is important to understand the intellectual and jurisprudential context of their narrative.

PIPS has focused on countering radicalisation, extremism, and militancy, and the study is an outcome of PIPS’s previous work along with the input from the dialogue group, comprising scholars and practitioners.

“Through such dialogues, scholars can highlight commonalities among different faiths,” Mohammad Amir Rana, director PIPS said.

“The main target of the study is religious harmony which will ultimately improve social harmony.”

He said that the foundation of Pakistani culture should be a positive expression that accepts all diversified groups.

The study also stressed on treating the constitution of the country as the guiding tool for both state and the society, and referred to Article 256 of the Constitution, which warns against raising any private militia inside the country.

PIPS has also suggested education or curriculum reforms and called for adding subjects like ‘citizenship’ and ‘civic education’ as compulsory at the primary-level.

The study has been prepared after consulting scholars and members of civil society including Dr. Khalid Masood, former chairman, Council of Islamic Ideology; Barrister Zafarullah Khan, minister of state for law and justice; Inamul Haq, former foreign minister; Dr. Qibla Ayaz, former vice-chancellor, Islamia College University, Peshawar; Mr. Khursheed Nadeem, anchor and scholar; Zafarullah Khan, parliamentary affairs expert; Fauzia Saeed, head of LokVirsa; Romana Bashir, peace-building activist and Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad, educationist.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2016