Dialogue

Pakistan can learn from Indonesian experience of reforms in Islamic education

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Pakistan’s religious organizations and scholars have a lot to learn from the non-political and public-oriented approach of the Indonesia Islamic organizations to educate people according to peaceful and dynamic principles of Islam. Like Indonesians, Pakistani religious scholars can respond effectively to challenges of extremism and intolerance through the reforms in religious education system particularly by … Read more

“Embroiled in its own crises, Pakistan is least concerned about the Arab Spring”

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The Arab Spring, a recent wave of civil uprisings and demonstrations in the Arab countries, hasnot received much attention in Pakistan. Pakistani government and people appear least concerned about it seemingly due to internal mess of political, economic and security crises.Nonetheless, it is a least likely scenario that the Arab Spring may replicate itself in … Read more

Jamal Benhayoun hits bookstalls with ‘narration, navigation and colonialism’

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In this unique script, Prof Jamal, a member of Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies’(PIPS) Advisory Board, has tried to establish a connection between narration and navigation with strong arguments that heroes and authors of the 17th and 18th century English narrative adventures were involved in shipping and navigation. The author quoted several English narrations, and … Read more

PIPS launches report on its yearlong engagement-for-peace with religious scholars

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Scholars, policy advisors and representatives of academic and research institutes acknowledged the role of religious scholars in promoting peace and harmony in society and agreed that they should be engaged in dialogue with other segments of society for that purpose. They emphasized that such a dialogue was much needed not only to facilitate interaction and … Read more

‘Pakistanis are rhetorically aggressive but moderate in action’

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The People in Pakistan have a common tendency to use radical rhetoric when discussing other religions, sects, nations, and people, whereas when  it  comes  down  to  their  practical behavior, the majority  of  Pakistanis  are still  moderate. The majority of the people in Pakistan do not have a specific lust for bloodshed and violence, however a … Read more

Ulama decide to counter violent ideologies through political and academic responses

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The Islamist organizations construct their arguments around religion and political rhetoric to effectively propagate their violent ideologies. A proper response to such ideologies of the Islamists should therefore emphasize the use of the same methodology. The state, religious scholars, or Ulama, and intellectuals share the responsibility to guide the people about the critical issues that factor … Read more

International moot demands better efforts from media bodies, governments to protect journalists

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ISLAMABAD: Safety of journalists must be the top priority for media organisations as well as state institutions in order to ensure the freedom of media in Pakistan, concluded speakers at a two-day international media conference organised by Pak Institute for Peace Studies and Intermedia Pakistan in Islamabad on December 12 & 13, 2011. The speakers at … Read more

Not all western intellectualism is contradictory to Islam

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Western political thoughts and intellectual trends, which are not contradictory to basic Islamic principles, can be followed and implemented in political and state systems of Pakistan. We need knowledge-based, and not belief-based, intellectual discourses to respond to emerging local and global challenges. Intellectuals and religious scholars said in a one-day workshop with madrasa students and … Read more

A 15-member Afghan delegation visits PIPS

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A 15-member delegation of Afghan students, lectures and representatives of the National Center for Policy Research (NCPR) from Kabul University visited Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) on November 16, 2011. Headed by Nicole Birtsch, chairperson of Peace Studies Department at Kabul University, the delegation was invited to a two-day visit to Pakistan by Konard … Read more

Scholars urge enhanced interaction between madrasa students and other segments of society

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Madrasa students should enhance their interaction with other segments of the society and influence others by presenting themselves as role models of peaceful, insightful and responsible Muslims and citizens. They should not only accept the reality of how others think about them but also prepare themselves through dialogue with other segments and by acquiring education … Read more