Dialogue only way to resolve conflicts within society: Experts.

ISLAMABAD -- Experts at a workshop said that dialogue was the only way to resolve different ethnic, religious, and linguistic conflicts within the society, and to bring peace and harmony in the country. They also said that the youth should come out of their different biases that were prevalent since childhood and promote logical and evidence-based discussions to make the society diverse and inclusive. The speakers expressed these views at a two-day workshop 'Youth for Change' organized by Islamabad-based Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) for its youth observers on interfaith harmony and peace. The purpose of the training was to sensitize the observers, who are part of the country-wide youth observatory network made by the institute, how to report incidents of hate speech, faith-based violence and freedom of faith violations from their respective areas at relevant platforms and what is the significance of their work? The event was part of a PIPS project on the engagement of youth to persuade them to play their role as agents of change to bring interfaith harmony and sustainable peace in the society. We are victims of biases since our childhood and youth should come out of these prejudices including linguistic, ethnic, and religious besides others, said Harris Khalique, Secretary-general Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), while addressing one of the sessions. He advised the observers that they should promote logical and evidence-based discussions on different issues by avoiding attacking anyone personally. Always investigate facts before giving your viewpoint on any incident, he said. He added that fact-checking has become indispensable in the present times when abundant unverified information flows through social media. He urged the need to hold inter-people dialogue. Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Dr Qibla Ayaz talking to participants said that focus had always remained to make the Pakistani society ritualistic but the...