LAHORE, Dec. 7 (APP)- Punjab Governor Salman Taseer has said the entire nation is united in the fight against terrorism. Addressing the 4th convocation of Beaconhouse National University (BNU) at Aiwan-e-Iqbal here Monday, he said the nation would never bow before terrorists. The governor observed, "Nations face difficult times and we will overcome all challenges and a handful terrorists cannot affect the life of the masses." "After a terror attack on Islamic International University Islamabad (IIUI), its students demanded the closure of the varsity, but we took a tough but courageous decision by keeping it open. "In the Swat operation, 2.5 million people had to leave their homes, however, the Pakistan armed forced with active support of the nation and democratic institutions cleared the valley of terrorists and internally displaced persons (IDPs) resettled within three months," he added. "Now in the Waziristan tribal belt, the Pakistan's armed forces are combing the area for elimination of terrorists and extremists," he said. He said he was concerned about the security of the Tableeghi Ijtema of around two million faithful from the country and abroad at Riawind last month. "Because there was no effective defence for hundreds of thousands of people with their luggage coming to the Ijtema on buses, trucks and other means of transport," he maintained. However, it was held in a peaceful manner and "we proved that Islam is totally against terrorism and extremism and we are a peaceful nation," he added. The governor congratulated the graduating students and said Beaconhouse was the largest education system of the world and a true example of entrepreneurship in the education sector. Earlier, the governor awarded gold medals to graduates while BNU Board of Directors' member Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri presented a souvenir to the governor. In his welcome address, BNU VC Sartaj Aziz said 245 students were awarded degrees including 17 from the School of Visual Arts; 35 from the School of Architecture and Design; 29 from the School of Liberal Arts; 42 from the School of Mass Communication; 12 from the School of Computer and Information Technology; 16 from the Economics Department of the School of Social Sciences; 71 from the School of Education and 14 from the Institute of Psychology and 9 Postgraduate Diplomas (PGD). APP/maa/shq