NACTA

Pakistan
 NACTA
Pakistan

Thematic Group 1
“Pakistan’s Legal Framework on Preventing Incitement
to Violence”

Presented By:
“Aimen Taimoor”

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 :Problem Areas Identified NACTA
Pakistan

1. Non-implementation of existing laws on incitement to violence and hate speech

2. Lack of executive oversight of the religious seminaries and mosques, especially sermons on
religious festivals.
3. Lack of regulatory framework regarding operations of social media.
4. Lack of literature in curriculum of educational institutions regarding incitement, hatred and
national cohesion.
5. Lack of awareness of legal frame work regarding incitement to violence and hate speech .
6. No parental control over the grown up students.
7. Staff training institutes and psychological counselling centers at the universities are dormant.
8. Non-existence of student –teacher bodies in educational institutions.
9. Social media playing a negative role, leading to religious and ethnic intolerance.

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 Brief Analysis :

NACTA
• 1. We conducted a survey from the students and teachers available in the board roam and found that 80% of the
Pakistan
students as well as faculty members were unaware about the existence of legal framework on incitement to
violence and hate speech.

• 2. Some of the participants were of the view that co-education, financial crisis, and political affiliations were the
main reasons of intolerance and violence but majority of the committee members disagreed to this proposition.

• 3. Majority of the participants agreed on the point that religious institutions should be under strict supervision of
the government, through the Council of Islamic Ideology.

• 4. The group agreed on the point that religious madrassahs were not responsible for incitement to violence
alone. Rather, there were more chances and precedence of radicalisation in the modern universities.

• 5. The group agreed on the point that punishment was not the only solution. Legal awareness, counselling and
rehabilitation of the detracted youth was equally important.

• 6. Participants agreed on the point that Religious sermons had a huge impact on narrative building.
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 Recommendations:
1. Consolidate all the scattered legal provisions such as, PPC, PECA, ATA, PEMRA Ordinance, in oneNACTA statute
Pakistan
and for avoiding procedural technicalities, let there be a single uniform investigation agency for the
offences related to violence and hate speech. (NACTA)
2. The Khatibs of mosques should be brought on the pay roll of the government on specific criteria and
sermons should be directly regulated and provided by the government. (council of Islamic ideology)
3. Freedom of expression needs to be balanced and the left wing of society also needs proper monitoring.
Cyber Crime Wing of FIA should block all the online hate contents before its dissemination.
4. There is a need of establishment of National Peace Academy, especially tasked with character building and
uniform narrative of peace, tolerance, inclusivity and national cohesion. (GOP)
5. The university curriculum needs revision and there should be a compulsory course of at least one credit
hour on introduction to law and policy and legal awareness regarding incitement to violence, hate speech
fundamental rights and duties. As a short term measure the already existing staff training institutes be
utilized for legal awareness of faculty members who would then deliver lectures to their students on
fortnightly basis and emphasise that the message should be taken to the society at large. The Universities
should also establish counselling centres/clinics for treatment of the radicalized students, identified by their
concerned head of departments. (HEC)
6. Parent-teacher meetings are required even at the university level, for ensuring parental guardianship and
an informed relationship between student, teacher and parents. The legal provisions and punishment
provided under the law, should also be reflected in the university prospectus and the affidavits, furnished
at the time of admission. (HEC) 5
 NACTA
Pakistan

Thanks
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