KARACHI, Dec 20: Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider has called for chalking out a course of action to meet the challenge posed to the whole world, especially the Islamic world, by terrorism.

Speaking as chief guest at the opening session of the seminar on “Terrorism: A new challenge to the world of Islam” held at a local hotel on Thursday under the auspices of the Jang Group of Newspapers, the minister said the campaign of western powers against terrorism would last long.

He urged the Muslim countries to educate their people. He said Islam places great emphasis on learning.

Mr Haider stressed that the Muslim countries should promote education and research, and adopt new technologies.

He asked the Muslim countries to become strong and stable and avoid conflicts as much as possible.

The minister pointed out that there was no institutionalized and potent forum where the Muslims could raise, as well as discuss, their problems and come up with viable solutions.

He also referred to the role played by the Organization of Islamic Conference in its recent meeting following one of the greatest challenges faced by the Islamic states.

On the other hand, he added, the G-8 was the organization that met often in various parts of the world and took important and major decisions that were almost always implemented.

“It is not a debating forum. It is an action and implementing forum,” he added.

The minister said that there was a need that the case of the Islamic world was also pleaded with powerful words.

He observed that there was also the need of creating a powerful Islamic media for which the money and resources were also available.

Mr Haider said that all the wrong things that were spread about Islam should be countered in a convincing manner through the print and the electronic media as well as through the Internet.

SECTARIAN GROUPS: The minister announced that sectarian groups in the country would be tackled strongly, adding that Pakistan would become a moderate, modern, progressive and dynamic Muslim state. He said that a strong anti-terrorism law had been promulgated in the country in August and two militant groups had been banned and another two were on the watch list.

“There has been a ban on the display of weapons for the past two years which is very effective.”

Mr Haider said that steps were being taken to deweaponize society and, in this connection, 126,000 illegal weapons had been seized so far.

He added that a ban had been placed on the collection of chanda by the so-called Jehadi organizations and that everybody would have to disclose the source of their funds.

The minister said that the government was also working on a Madressah strategy.

TALIBAN: The interior minister, Moinuddin Haider, said the present government had distanced itself from the policies pursued by the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

“During my three meetings meeting with Mulla Omar, apart from stressing other issues I had requested him not to destroy centuries-old statues of Buddha, but he did not heed my request.”

The kind of Islam depicted by the former regime in Afghanistan showed wrong picture of our religion.

He disclosed that the government had taken a number of steps to try and moderate the Taliban.

INDIAN PARLIAMENT: The interior minister also termed the recent attack on the Indian parliament as the most foolish act and wondered what benefit could Pakistan possibly get from this.

He maintained that such an act was only aimed at harming the country and that it had been carried out by “the enemies of Pakistan”.

TONY BLAIR: A video message of British Prime Minister Tony Blair was played.

In his message, the British premier paid tribute to the government of Pakistan for its role in the recent fight against international terrorism.

He spelled out reasons why he believed it was important that the fight against terrorism continued.

“I am sure it’s right that we continue to wage that war. I am sure it’s also right that with your help and support we will secure victory in it,” the British prime minister added.

Those who spoke at the function included Dr Hafeez Malik, professor of political science at Villanova University, USA; Prof Dr Anis Ahmad, dean of the faculty of social science, Islamic University, Islamabad; Dr Riffat Hassan, professor at University of Louisvilla, USA; Shehla Rehman, artist, and the editor of Daily Jang, Mahmood Sham.

A paper of Prof Stephen Cohen was also read out.—Agencies