|
ANKARA Oct.
31 (APP) Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani Friday said Turkey’s secular and
modern education system could inspire Pakistan to change its methods and system
to face the challenges of extremism and terrorism. In an
exclusive interview published in the leading English Turkish newspaper, “Turkish
Daily News” Prime Minister Gilani spoke about the reforms planned by the
democratic government. He said, “I
sent my team of educationists here to study the system (in Turkey).”
The
newspaper pointed out that the new Pakistani administration has declared its
priority of modernizing the country through democratic reforms to overcome the
problems of terrorism, extremism and economic crisis.
When asked
whether his government’s action plan also included the modernization and even
secularization of education in Pakistan, Gilani said they were already searching
for ways to overcome educational problems.
There are
more than 20,000 madrasahs in Pakistan with around 1.7 million students, which
came to the attention of the world particularly after Al‑Qaeda’s attacks on the
United States on Sept. 11, 2001.
“We are
regularizing (the madrasahs) so that they should provide the same sort of
education as other educational institutions (of Pakistan),” Gilani said.
The Prime
Minister said education alone is not a solution to Pakistan’s problems. He said
democracy is the best way to stabilize the future of around 140 million
Pakistanis.
“People
have voted for democratic forces, for progressive forces and for a change in the
system. Therefore democracy is taking roots in Pakistan and with a transition to
democracy, I think things will move in the right direction,” he said.
“I have two
policies,” the prime minister said. “The first is to control terrorism and
extremism and the second is to build up the economy. They are interrelated.”
The
newspaper noted that last week the Pakistani Parliament unanimously passed a
resolution that underlined the country’s commitment and determination to fight
terrorism.
The prime
minister, in addition to his government’s efforts, emphasized the role religious
leaders and scholars could have in this fight.
“When
religious leaders (ulema) and clerics start giving ‘fetvas’ (advisory opinions)
that suicide bombings are haram (forbidden by religion) and they have no place
in Islam, then people will understand because they understand the language of
the people preaching to them,” he said.
Prime
Minister Gilani underlined Pakistan’s commitment to the fight against terrorism.
“We have the will and ability to control and fight terrorism, but the world
should also understand that although it is fighting under NATO with very
sophisticated weaponry in Afghanistan they have not achieved desired results,”
he said.
Gilani’s
trip to Turkey coincided with the 85th anniversary of Turkey’s
foundation. When asked about his feelings regarding Turkey, Gilani said the two
countries are actually one nation.
“Their
sorrows are our sorrows. Their happiness is our happiness. Therefore we
cooperate in various multi‑dimensional fields and have a lot in common such as
culture, tradition, heritage and more. It is like a second home to me,” he said.
|
News 
