HYDERABAD: Participants in a panel discussion organised by the Bhitshah Declaration Coordination Council (BDCC) at the local press club on Wednesday called for collective efforts to counter religious extremism and fundamentalism in Karachi.

Mohammad Tahseen, executive director of the South Asia Partnership Pakistan, was the chief guest.

He said that roots of religious extremism were very strong, adding that long-term struggle was needed for reshaping peace, equality and brotherhood.

Capitalist block controlled countries and killed thousands of people in the world. It was a tragedy that children were also killed in various forms of violence. Natural resources were looted and people got kille d, he said.

Amar Sindhu, an activist of the Women Action Forum, said women could play a leading role against religious extremism and for peace and security.

Dr Ashothama Lohana of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), M. Parkash, Shahnaz Sheedi and Punhal Sario also expressed their views on religious extremism.