She said that Prime Minister Khan has taken bold decisions in national interest and not for political gains. She said that even political opponents of Prime Minister Khan are admitting if the nation shows courage and determination at this critical juncture, a bright future would be its destination. She underlined the need for national unity to confront the challenges being faced by the country.
Addressing a seminar on "Pakistan towards Peaceful Coexistence," Dr Firdous was of the view that dialogue is the only way forward to resolve the prevailing issues. She said that the Ministries of Religious Affairs, Law and Justice and Information and Broadcasting need to sit together and prepare a roadmap for encouraging dialogue in the society. "Instead of talking about differences, we all need to highlight the commonalities that bring us closer," she remarked.
Dr Firdous said that the confrontation can never be a solution to an issue, adding, "When a nation gets united to overcome challenges, it emerges successful." She said that Pakistan's foundations were laid on an ideology. She said that Prime Minister Khan wants to make Pakistan a state on the vision of State of Medina, with the main features of rule of law, equal opportunities, justice for all and respect for human rights including those of minorities.
Dr Firdous said that Islam stands for peace and it has no link with hatred and extremism. She said that a handful of individuals and some groups held hostage the entire society in the name of religion whereas indeed they have no link with Islam. She said that state's intervention has become imperative to stop those groups and individuals in the better of interest of its people. She said that it is a matter of pride that Pakistan is among the top five countries of the world where the people donate in the name of charity. "We are proud that our religion ordains us charity. As Muslims, we believe that our earnings become only pure when we donate for the deserving and needy individuals of our society."
"The followers of such a religion can never even think to inflict pain on others," she remarked. About the hate speech issue, she said that Islam does not allow anyone to impose one's personal thoughts on others forcibly. "Our religion gives all the right of freedom of expression. Neither our religion nor our law allows anyone to impose his thought or ideology upon others by force. The extremist attitudes and thoughts are negations of basic philosophy of Islam," she added.
She said the faith of a Muslim remains incomplete if there is no balance between rights of Allah and rights of people. She said that Islam gives a code of conduct to its followers and provides them the best charter of human rights through the Holy Quran, which is also incorporated by the United Nations in its charter. "Islam is the first religion which lays emphasis on grant of rights to women, servants and downtrodden segments of the society," she added.