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By APP, *‘Militancy-related headlines do injustice to culture-rich Pakistan’* - Daily Times - Lahore, Pakistan
Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Envoy Haqqani says govt trying to revive cultural traditions to make the world realise extremists don’t represent Pakistan

Washington: Rich cultural traditions like Sufi poetry that help foster values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence are truly reflective of the Pakistani nation and not its militancy-related problems that make the headlines of newspapers across the globe every day, Islamabad’s ambassador to Washington said on Tuesday.

“Pakistan is much more than the everyday headlines of newspapers published across the globe about its’ militancy-related issues. Pakistan represents 180 million people with their cultural diversity and aspirations for the future,” Ambassador Husain Haqqani said.

He was underlining the need to see Pakistan in its entirety - in contrast with the stereotyped, superficial portrayals of the country in parts of the international media - as he spoke to a gathering of Americans and Pakistanis at the country’s embassy.

The Pakistan embassy was hosting a performance by renowned qawwal Amjad Farid Sabri, son of the legendary Ghulam Farid Sabri.

“These traditions are part of our glorious cultural heritage. The democratic government is working to revive cultural traditions so that the world realises that a handful of extremists do not represent Pakistan. Rather it is the overwhelming majority who see the message of tolerance, love and peace in such traditions that symbolises what Pakistan is truly based on,” he said.

[Picture: Mr. Husain Haqqani, Pakistani Ambassador to the United States. Photo: Wiki.]