Pakistan’s economy suffered immensely due to terrorism: Speaker NA

National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said that Pakistan’s economy has suffered gravely due to “cowardly acts of terrorism” while the problem of extremism had been aggravated by the rise of the drug trade.

He said this addressing the first six-nation Speakers’ Conference, which was inaugurated by President Mamnoon Hussain earlier today. The conference ─ themed “The challenges of terrorism and inter-regional connectivity” ─ was held in Islamabad, with representatives from Russia, China, Iran, Afghanistan and Turkey in attendance.
“Why has the global coalition against terrorism consistently failed to control and destroy poppy cultivation?” Sadiq asked, noting that the drug had become a major source of terror financing.
“Although religious fanaticism has often been cited as the main cause of global terrorism, let us not forget that the rise of the populous right and the sanctioning of oppression has also added to the mayhem,” Sadiq said.
“The world has failed to address the root cause of extremism,” he added.
He said that the controversy over Jerusalem’s status did not only violate international laws but also undermined peace efforts, divided the people of the world and fanned religious animosity.
He said that the US move to veto a United Nations Security Council’s draft resolution rejecting the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital was proof that the world needs a more just and equitable order.