afkoora, a not-for-profit organisation for research and development, arranged a three-day colloquium titled ‘Unlearning violence–theory, practice and outcome.’ The event was attended by noted scholars, rights activists, peace theorists, representatives from the transgender community and members of the civil society.

On the inaugural day, Hayat Roghani, Mafkoora’s CEO, said that there was a dire need to advocate for peace and disavow violence in all its forms and manifestations. He said that conflicts should be resolved through dialogue. “Exploitation of Pashtuns by alien powers, policy of war economy and state oppression compelled people to resort to violent behaviour,” he said.

Roghani said that many problems including male-dominance, xenophobia, parochialism were social constructs that needed to be deconstructed by reclaiming the non-violence philosophy of Bacha Khan.

“We can return to non-violence through curriculum and positive social rituals. Violence has to be unlearned. We must work towards becoming a more peaceful society,” stressed Roghani

The debate on various aspects of violence and unlearning violence continued throughout the event. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s former IG Dr Syed Akhtar Ali Shah said that a comprehensive plan to engage the youth was the need of the hour. “The young people of this province are excellent at sports. They participate in literary events and hold study circles. We must find a way to channelise their talents,” he said.

Professor Samiuddin Arman said that Gene Sharp, an American political scientist, had identified up to 198 different types of non-violence. “Bacha Khan practiced most of them during his struggle against the British Raj,” he said.

“Bacha Khan Baba, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King proved that non-violence, as an approach, is compatible with tribal, multi-ethnic and urban societies. We must break the cycle of revenge too,” he said.

Dr Ayaz Khan from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Centre of Excellence said that there was a need to engage the youth in productive and healthy activities. “Our focus should be on countering violence. The younger generation deserves our love. There should be more social events for them. Teachers, religious scholars, rights activists should contribute to the cause of peace,” he said.

Farzana Khan, president of the transgender community, also addressed the audience. She said that the society had failed to accept transgender people as human beings and they were still being denied their basic rights. “Violence against the transgender community is rising. So many transwomen were killed with impunity. Only one culprit was convicted,” she said.

Mahi Gul, a noted transgender rights activist said: “We are always in chains. Our community, doesn’t enjoy freedom. Violence has become routine for us. Unlearning violence would benefit the trans community more than other segments of the society.”

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, a psychiatrist, was of the opinion that comprehensive counseling sessions with youth, teachers and parents would yield positive outcomes. “Unlearning violence should be taught as a separate subject from school to university. Curriculum plays a significant role in changing people’s minds,” he said.

Prof Hanif Khalil, director of the Institute of Pakistan Studies at the Quaid-i- Azam University, presented the theory, practice and outcome of violence and non-violence. Gulzar Jalal Yousafzai, a research scholar, stated that world history tells us that adopting peaceful ways and means for securing genuine rights has always been effective.

The symposium ended up with the conclusion that peace should be propagated through both performing and visual arts. Seminars, study circles and especially theatrical performances should be arranged for young people.

The writer is a Peshawar-based journalist. He mostly writes on art, culture, education, youth and minorities. His X handle: @Shinwar-9