Malaysia has presented successful model of discouraging violent tendencies in society through a comprehensive strategy of counter extremism. Though various ethno-religious groups had been emerged as a major challenge for the social harmony but pro-active and vigilant role of the state has been able to keep the secular democratic of the country intact. The ethno-religious of Malaysia were different from the issues one can observe in Pakistan and hence, they may be demanding different set of solutions than of Malaysia, however, respecting differences should be essence of problem solving strategy in any democratic society. The visiting Malaysian scholars Prof. Ruhanas Harun and Prof. Dr. Kamarulnizam shared these views with the audience at University of Peshawar (UoP) while delivering lectures during the seminar ¿State, Religion and Democracy– here Wednesday.

The seminar was part of a series of discussions with Pakistani intelligentsia, academia and civil society on various contemporary issues facilitated by Heinrich Boll Stiftung (HBS) and Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad.

Prof, Runhas Harun informed the audience that on the face of threats emanating from growing ethnic and religious extremism in society, the state had evolved a de-radicalization strategy. In this regard, she said, the state has made quite significant inroad to set an alternate narrative including by presenting versions of Jihad based on inner strive and struggle to serve the humanity in numerous ways.

While presenting role of the state in maintain harmony among the diverse groups of society, Prof. Dr. Kamarulnizam, in his lecture, said that the state has adopted a very accommodative attitude towards the religion in Malaysia but has taken appropriate measures to ensure that and religion should not be posing a hindrance to the democratic and social development of the country. He said that the state has assumed its role to works for the betterment of underprivileged classes and to get them mainstreamed in society.

Dr. Rasool Jan, Vice Chancellor University of Peshawar also expressed his views on the occasion and said that the Pashtun people were wrongly being portrayed as radicals while the facts were quite contrary to it as they have a long history of living as most peaceful people in the world. He said that problem of extremism and radicalization that Pakistan is being faced with needed a thoughtful soul searching. He said that to overcome the problems emanated from extremist tendencies could be resolved by adopting pragmatic policies in accordance to our particular social requirements. Dr.AdnanAli,Dean Faculty of Social Sciences (UoP) also shared his views and presented various facts on the topic in the context of Pakistani society.