THIS is apropos of the report, ‘Sufism teaches us to love humanity’ (April 11). Views were expressed and valuable suggestions were floated by many participants to promote and disseminate the all-embracing and universal message of Sufis on the inaugural day of a two-day national conference on “The significance of Sufi message in modern Pakistan”.

It was organised by the Department of Sindhi, Federal Urdu University. It was to assure us that the ongoing efforts to highlight Sufis would go unabated and unhindered to curb extremism and promote love, peace, unity and brotherhood we badly need for our peaceful living.

In a country like ours where we witness the ever-rising menaces of ethnicity, sectarianism, provincialism, parochialism, deepening mistrust and ever-growing political differences, resulting, sadly, in senseless killings, nothing but the assimilation of Sufism in our practical lives can come to our rescue and save us from the tension-filled and stressful life we are relegated to.

Sufism is never meant to severe relations, it rather unifies people irrespective of their religion, caste, creed, sect, colour and nationality. It is clear that national integration comes not from mere slogan-mongering or lip-service but from preaching and practising moral values, love and harmony.

Sufism is not irrelevant in modern times rather there never was a greater need for it than now to effectively curb terrorism and extremism, and use it as a panacea for all ills besetting us in the troubled times we are living in.

KHADIM HUSSAIN SUBHPOTO Hyderabad