Academy for all KP languages demanded

PESHAWAR (The News) : Reviving cultural activities and strengthening cultural norms is need of the hour for lasting peace for which writers, poets, artistes and intellectuals have to play their due role. Strengthening cultural bonds among different ethnic communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas can help restore lasting peace.

These were the views of participants, including provincial minister for information and culture, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, at a debate held here Thursday. Intellectuals, poets and writers from different parts of the province including Peshawar, Abbottabad (Hazara), Dera Ismail Khan, Chitral and Fata participated in the debate titled “Peace through culture’ arranged by Cultural Journalists Forum in collaboration with Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Culture Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Mian Iftikhar said the government had adopted all the ways and means including talks but militants always stuck to their narrow-mindedness and policy of sabotage and the security forces had to deal with them strictly and thus the government writ was restored in areas like the militancy-hit Malakand division. 

However, he said culture was more effective than force in countering terrorism and extremism. It was the courage of political forces, writers, poets and journalists who continued their work despite threats and sacrificing their lives, he added. He said along with poets, writers, artistes and intellectuals, the judiciary’s role had become more vital in the current situation.

The political leadership exposed the real faces of terrorists and security forces nabbed them in a difficult situation but it was ironic that 98 percent of the terrorists were being acquitted. “The security forces have arrested more than 5000 terrorists including 200 to 300 would-be suicide bombers along with suicide vests but courts grant them bail on the pretext of lack of evidence.

What could be more evidence than establishing their links with banned outfits, involvement in terrorism and recovering explosives from them?,” he posed a question. The minister said it was responsibility of the whole society and institutions to play their role in countering terrorism and parting ways with enemies of the nation, land, peace and progress. He said culture could never be stagnant and it remains alive even in worst time that is why it could be the best tool for restoration of peace and identifying the enemies of peace and progress.

Intellectuals and poets including Prof Rajwali Shah Khattak, Dr Muhammad Azam Azam, Dr Iqbal Nasim Khattak, Salim Khattak, Nisar Muhammad Khan, Wadood Hashtnagri, Kalim Shinwari, Ikramullah, Murtaza Shaheen (Pashto), Ismail Awan, Yahya Khalid (Hindko), Farooq Ahmad Jan Babar (Seraiki), Prof Israruddin (Khowar),social and political workers Jan Nisar, Idrees Kamal, Amir Khan, Ishrat Abbas, columnists and journalists Dr Salahuddin, Younus Qiasi, Shamim Shahid, Ehtisham Toru, Rokhan Yusufzai, Amjad Ali Khadim, Sher Alam Shinwari, Inayatur Rahman, Ghulam Ghaus and Sajjad Khalil, artistes and comperes Javed Babar, Tariq Jamal, Abid Hussain, Bakhtiar Khattak, Sadiq Akbar, Gulzar Alam, Ishfaq Toru and Arshad Hussain, deputy director of the Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, took part in the debate.

Posted in: Chitral,NWFP