No protest after SC's final decision in Aasia's case termed a milestone.

Byline: Ikram Junaidi

ISLAMABAD -- Politicians from the governing and opposition parties on Thursday said Aasia Bibi's acquittal in a blasphemy case was a milestone in Pakistan's history, as was the absence of any prominent protests against the decision.

At the 'Dialogue between Youth and Parliamentarians on Democratic and Peaceful Governance and Sustainable Development in Pakistan' organised by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) and the United Nations Development Programme, speakers also said the time had come to look into where they had made mistakes.

Parliamentary Secretary for Planning MNA Kanwal Shauzab from the PTI said at the event that the absence of protestswas due to improved management and social media monitoring.

Dialogue held on youth, parliamentarians and governance

'Everyone knows what happened three months back [when Aasia Bibi was first acquitted by the Supreme Court]. But after that, monitoring of social media was increased and hate speech was topped. Immediate action was taken against those who were inciting people,' she said.

Ms Shauzab said society had been radicalised and become polarised, so it would take time to eradicate the issue completely.

'However I suggest that people should not forward provocative messages on social media and also discourage such messaging. As Aasia has been acquitted, we should look into where we went wrong,' she added.

While discussing provocative remarks against other countries in the educational curriculum, she said these countries were previously considered enemies but such things would improve following decisions such as that to open the Kartarpur Corridor.

MNA Mehnaz Akbar Aziz from the PML-N said it was a milestone for Pakistan that Aasia Bibi was acquitted.

MNA Kishwer Zahra from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement told participants that she moved two bills, one against extremism and one to upgrade volunteer units such as the girls guide, but they were not passed.

'I suggest the ulema should be pushed to play a role to bring peace in society, and their speeches should also be checked,' she said.

The ban on student unions should be lifted so the youth can be involved in political activities, Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam-Fazl MNA Shahida Akhtar Ali added.

National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser said the war against terrorism has affected all of society and there is frustration among the youth.

However, he said, development would boost society and the...