Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said "terrorism will continue to grow till religion is being sold as a commodity and hatemongers continue to spread sectarian hatred".

He was addressing a workers convention of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Sialkot on Saturday.

Asif maintained that Muslim Ummah will not be united and religious differences will continue to strengthen if businesses continue to run under the disguise of religious practices.

“War against terrorism is the prime focus of all politicians but terrorism cannot be uprooted if ideologies are not changed,” he said.

The minister added that terrorism is an ideology and a mental condition, whereas media can play a significant role in curbing terrorism and eliminating religious extremism.

During his speech, Asif strictly criticised media over allegedly blowing the sectarian conflicts out of proportion. Branding media as “businessmen,” he said they are marketeers and only sell running products.

The defence minister claimed that those people are given air-time on media who exploit religious differences. "Such people are given airtime only because they bring in ratings and push forward the business agenda."

Asif was of the view that around 70 to 80 per cent terrorism had been wiped out as a result of operation Zarb-i-Azb.

He added that “not only the politicians and brave forces of Pakistan “ will have to join hands in fighting the war against terrorism but all departments of Pakistan will have to fight this war on streets and roads of the country.

He praised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for gains in war against terrorism and said that though previous governments could take bold decisions on terrorism it was Nawaz Sharif who took such decisions.