Political foes, HR activists march for peace
KARACHI: A large number of people belonging to different political parties, civil society and professional bodies on Saturday turned out to take part in the Sindh government-sponsored peace rally from the Clifton heliport to Do Talwar for the restoration of a durable peace in the city.
This was the first-ever rally in the city where leaders and activists of the Pakistan People’s Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Awami National Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) and others got together and vowed to resist terrorism and extremism.
The idea of organising the peace rally was floated by Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon who then joined Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla in hosting the event.
Supporters of the MQM were seen in large numbers in the rally as its founder had declared support for the PPP-organised rally.
Most marchers were carrying white flags besides their party flags.
A large number of PPP supporters, mainly from Lyari, chanted slogans such as “Peace is Bhutto’s path”, “Let’s join hands against killers” and “We need peace”.
The information minister thanked the members of political parties and civil society and said the people by participating in the event had given their verdict in “favour of a collaborative action against enemies of peace and killers of innocent people”.
Pir Mazharul Haq said people wanted to live in peace and harmony. “It is high time we thought as Pakistanis and not as partisans,” he said.
Jam Madad Ali said that people wanted peace at all costs and we must join hands for that. This was also the message of Pir Pagara, he said, adding that Sindh was the land of peace and amity.
Rights activist Karamat Ali from the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research said he was encouraged by the rally though it was somewhat ill organised. He said that it must give a boost to the desire for peace and a joint struggle against terrorism.
He was of the opinion that the rally should not turn out to be yet another half-hearted attempt to scuttle the real efforts for restoring peace. He said the people would not forgive the leaders if once again the killings started despite public pronouncements against extremism.
Source: Dawn
Date:7/31/2011
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