ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage (IB&NH) Senator Pervaiz Rashid has said that the nation acknowledges the role and sacrifices rendered by police department in fight against terrorism.
Addressing a seminar on “counter-terrorism strategic communication and media engagement training course” here on Wednesday, Pervaiz Rashid said the police department personnel laid down their precious lives while guarding schools and religious worship places across the country.
He said that police personnel along with Pakistan Army were sacrificing their lives today to make “our future peaceful and safe”.
Besides fighting terrorism, it was responsibility of the police to provide correct information to the general public and not leave room for spread of rumours, especially after any terrorist incident, Pervaiz Rashid observed.
He said that the operation Zarb-e-Azb was going on and it would eliminate the terrorists from soil of the country. However, it was also necessary to root out the extremist mindset, which was creating the suicide bombers, he maintained.
Pervaiz Rashid suggested that educational syllabus should be changed to teach the new generation the true message of Islam. He said that the new generation should be taught about the “Aswa-e-Hasna” of the Holy Prophet (SAW), who even went to inquire about the health of the Jewish woman, who used to throw garbage on him.
The minister said that the message of tolerance and love for humanity would have to be taught in schools, colleges, religious places, films and television. He said that in the past when there was only print media, the police had several hours to issue statements about any mishap but advancement of technology had taken away that advantage.
He further said that now whenever any such incident occurred, the electronic media present in the bedrooms and mobile phones in our hands started flashing the news. In such a situation, if the police department remained silent, rumours started spreading, so it was vital to give police version, he added.
He said that police should improve liaison with media so that rumours mongers could not take advantage of the situation.
Pervaiz Rashid said that such workshops were very good for training of the police officers, who have to face the media in crisis situations.
To a question, the Information Minister said that the Punjab Police would soon set up an institution to boost morale of the department. He said that the government was taking steps for the welfare of the police department in the country.
INP