'Paradigm shift needed to overcome terror, militancy'

ISLAMABAD - A paradigm shift is needed to overcome the prevailing unrest, uncertainty and violence in the society, said Zafarullah Khan, Director Centre for Civic Education.  

The Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) organised a media workshop titled ‘Radicalisation in Pakistan’ here on Thursday. Several leading journalists also attended the event.

In the workshop, Muhammad Amir Rana, Director PIPS, Muhammad Azam, PIPS analyst, Sara Noor, PIPS Researcher, Safdar Sial, Mansoor Khan Mehsud and Abdul Mateen presented their presentations on the burning security issues and repercussions of the radicalisation on the society.   

Leading journalists Mazhar Abbas, Zafar Abbas, and Wusatullah Khan chaired the different sessions of workshop and shared their experiences with the participants.

Zafarullah Khan was of the view that radicalisation was cancer of the society, as it had been causing violent conflicts, militancy and terrorism in the country since long. He regretted that responses of the state are yet to be delivered to counter this evil. “The elite of society are backing the conflicts for their vested interests,” he maintained.

In his presentation, Amir Rana, Director PIPS highlighted the different phases and baselines of radicalisation, terrorism and extremism. He opined that these evils have deep linkages with each others.