Speaker NA, Ch. Ameer Hussain's Speech

It is my proud privilege to preside over this inaugural function of the first ever private sector CAT Foundation. It is a laudable step towards the right direction at the right time. For this pioneer initiative, I congratulate the President of CAT Foundation, Mr. Zafar Shahid and his team.
The growing menace of terrorism had necessitated establishment of such an organization in the country. The pious objective of CAT Foundation to spread awareness among the masses at the grass root level about the negative consequences of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations would certainly go a long way in containing and ultimately eradicating the terrorism.
Ladies and Gentlemen!
Terrorism has recently developed almost into an international phenomenon threatening civic orders and societies all over the globe. No society can today claim to be free from this epidemic. It raises deep dangers equally for each country.
The state and the people of Pakistan have seen and are seeing worst forms of terrorism. Not only socially but economically too societies suffer a lot. Although the acts of terrorism can be the brainchild of a few distracted and anti-humanity persons yet its consequences are colossal and therefore need to be attended to not only by the individual Governments but also by the global civil societies too so that disasters like 9/11 or its aftermaths do not occur again.
Eradication of terrorism is a common cause. Every right thinking person will have to play his/her part in this regard Public institutions and civil societies groups will have to play a robust role in rooting out every type of terrorism, extremism and social intolerance. It is in our national interest to pursue this course patiently, pragmatically and judiciously.
Terrorism is a social curse. It not only impairs our national image within and without but also badly affects other activities too, the foremost among them the economic dynamism. Therefore it needs to be effaced from the society with all moral, social and political force and fortitude.
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has given us a national motto, the Enlightened Moderation so that Pakistan and the people of Pakistan are enabled to capture new glories and honor among the community of nations. Its implementation will surely help bring about a constructive moderation in our national society building up further bonds of societal harmony, tolerance and fraternity among our people. An atmosphere of internal moderation will also help release the energies of creativity and undeterred social move and progress.
We should also keep this fact in mind that today the eyes of the whole world are focused on Pakistan. Our attitudes and behavior are under scrutiny. We have to respond to the expectations of the outside world too besides strengthening further our national socio-economic environment. To achieve this objective the Enlightened Moderation provides us again the best operational guideline. I would urge upon all the participants to popularise this national motto in their respective spheres of influence everywhere. We all have to defeat the forces of negativism by foiling the evil designs of terrorists and extremists.
I would also urge upon the state institutions and public fora to extend all possible cooperation to the management of the CAT Foundation in the common objective of rooting out terrorism in all its variety and variance. I once again congratulate Mr. Zafar Shahid on his bold initiatives and assure his organizations all possible cooperation."