Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan's prime minister is seeking help from the country's clerics to fight extremism.
Nawaz Sharif, in a speech at a seminary on Saturday, called on religious scholars to help him dismantle a "narrative" characterized by militants killing thousands of people over the last decade in hopes of overthrowing the government and enforcing Taliban-style laws in Pakistan.
Sharif says Pakistan is close to success in the battle against terrorism and asked clerics to join him in rejecting militancy.
Sharif's appeal comes a day after a bill was introduced in Pakistan's parliament that would legalize trials of suspected militants before military courts. Along with such trials, Pakistan has carried out operations against militants but violence has continued.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.