Students urged to help fight extremism.

Byline: Sher Alam Shinwari

PESHAWAR -- Speakers at the inaugural ceremony of three-day Bacha Khan Peace Festival here on Tuesday advised students to adopt ways and means to fight ignorance, militancy and extremism with pens and books.

The event is part of the series of activities being held in connection with the centenary celebrations of Islah-i-Afaghina launched by Bacha Khan's Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek in 1921.

MPA Shagufta Malik, who was chief guest on the occasion, called upon the students to set an example of being peaceful, nonviolent and disciplined. She said that students should adopt ways of modern education to counter all kinds of violence in accordance with nonviolence philosophy of Bacha Khan. She added that Bacha Khan highlighted the significance of women's role in the society.

Other speakers said that the main objective of the event was to transport students to a period of history in which Pakhtun leaders adopted peaceful means to get freedom from the British.

Bacha Khan Peace Festival begins

'The Khudai Khidmatgar Tehreek led by Bacha Khan launched a movement to reform Pakhtuns, asking them to bring about change in their attitude, get modern education and give rights to women,' they said.

The festival was arranged under the auspices of Pakhtun Students Federation (PkSF) at the cricket ground of Allama Iqbal Hostel, University of Peshawar. A large number of ANP works, students, teachers and social activists attended the event.

The first day highlights included a mega book fair where around 20 bookstalls showcased titles in English, Urdu...