ACCORDING to press reports, the meeting of the defence committee of the cabinet, which chiefs of armed forces attended, decided to start a de-radicalisation programme to combat rising fundamentalism and extremism in the country.

Youths will be motivated and engaged to have a peaceful living. It is imperative to understand that terrorism is an ideology of sorts. Only an ideology of modernity and liberalism can work against extremism by drawing support from people who can be mobilised by political parties and civil societies with state support.

As we know, a number of madressahs are producing armies of young men who are being radicalised. It is increasing extremism and violence. Persons from these madressahs are not qualified for any professional employment.

These madressahs must be reformed, imparting education in science and technology. They must be affiliated with the private or the army school system. Those political parties which are using religion to achieve political power should be banned. All those laws which discriminate citizens on the basis of their faith, religion, cast and creed must be removed from the statute.

Credentials, qualifications and personal character should be scrutinised by the authorities concerned of all clergymen working as televangelists and producers of religious programmes on TV channels before they are allowed to preach their version of Islam.

Debates on ideology and identity must be discouraged. Pakistan is a reality with a population of 180 million and better placed among developing countries. All those in power and responsible for managing and guiding the country should concentrate on how to make Pakistan a prosperous, progressive, democratic country with its society free of corruption. Every citizen should have equal opportunity to achieve his goals by hard work and honesty.

It is also imperative that state institutions and the media are purged of fundamentalist, religious bigots and zealots. The ministry of youth has the responsibility to look after the welfare of the youth who are 42 per cent of the population. The youth must be provided sports facilities such as playgrounds for football, hockey, volleyballs, cricket at town and tehsil levels in each district. Multinationals, local large business groups and banks should be encouraged to perform their social responsibility towards society by sponsoring sport facilities

S.T.H. Lahore