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The National Assembly has been summoned to meet on Monday, the 1st April, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. in the Parliament House, Islamabad
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NA Speaker Calls for Global Legislative and Political Measures to Address the Challenge of Terrorism and Violent Extremism

Thursday, 26th November, 2015

Islamabad November 26, 2015: Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has called for global multi dimensional legislative and political measures to address the challenge of terrorism and violent extremism. He said that terrorism and extremism were posing severe threat to global peace and prosperity. He said that terrorism should not be associated with any religion, culture, or society. The Speaker was addressing the meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) being held in Saint Petersburg, Russia, today.

The Speaker said that the rise of terrorism and extremism is directly related with conflicts and disputes and called upon the international community to pay urgent attention to address festering disputes and unresolved conflicts, aggression, foreign occupation and denial of the right of self-determination. He said that the religious, racial, and ethnic discrimination or persecution and economic disparities create polarization. He was of the view that extremists use these situations to lure youth into supporting their agenda. He stressed upon the international community to focus on countering the defamation of certain religions and communities, especially unfair and biased portrayal of Islam and Islamic beliefs is unacceptable and propaganda should not be allowed. He said that legislative measures should be adopted to prohibit insults to religions and to establish a clear distinction between free speech and hate speech.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said that Pakistan strongly condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Highlighting Pakistan’s role in eliminating terrorism and extremism, he said that a comprehensive approach against this menace was actively being pursued and consequently, legislation has been adopted by the Parliament to facilitate the prosecution of terrorists in the court of law.

He said that Pakistan’s parliament played a vital role in creating a consensus in society and all organs of state by adopting and implementing a multi dimensional National Action Plan consequent to the barbaric attack on a school at Peshawar in year 2014. As part of the plan, Pakistan has taken measures to curb violent extremism including ban on hate speech, steps against religious persecution and prevention of the use of social media for extremism and its glorification.

The Speaker reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to the fight against terrorism said that a law-enforcement operation against terrorists was launched and were exterminated. He further said that Pakistan is committed to intensifying international cooperation in the security, police, financial and other aspects to curb violent extremism and eliminate terrorism and terrorist groups and networks.  He said that Pakistan will continue to its efforts to eliminate terrorism.