Thousands rally for peace

LAHORE: Thousands of human rights and peace activists demonstrated peacefully for a “new world with peace, democracy, love and unity” on Monday.

The demonstration was held by the Pakistan Social Forum (PSF) and attended by a large number of activists after a full-day participation in various programmes also arranged by the forum.

The activists from various non-government organisations from across Pakistan joined the demonstration that started from the Alhamra Hall and terminated at the Punjab Assembly building. The demonstrators raised slogans for peace, human rights violations, rights for the working class, gender discrimination, minorities’ rights and corporate globalisation. They also chanted anti-America, anti-war and anti-Greater Thal Canal slogans.

The forum, as part of the World Social Forum (WSF), arranges talk shows, stage plays, debates, conferences and seminars on the various world issues.

Those who spoke on the occasion included IA Rehman, Asma Jehangir, Qazi Javed, Dr Farooq, Dr Zafar Mirza, Abdul Hai Baloch, Rasul Bux Paleejo, Abid Hassan Manto and MNA Manzoor Ahmad.

The speakers opposed the Indo-Pak nuclear arms race. They called the government a “Mulla-Military Alliance”. “Why are the mullas is quiet about the questioning of Pakistani nuclear scientists?” they asked. They said the forum raised a voice for all progressive movements and helped the nation resolve key issues. The forum, they added, was for everyone everywhere.

The WSF Pakistan chapter will take part in the WSF to be held in Mumbai on January 16. The WSF was established in Brazil in 1999 and its Pakistan chapter was set up in 2003. —Staff Report

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