Rally calls for SAARC no-war agreement

Staff Report

MULTAN: The Pakistan Seraiki Party and the Seraiki Students Federation on Sunday organised a peace rally to encourage delegates from SAARC countries to sign a no-war pact to reduce their armed forces and cut their defence budgets so that money could be spent on health care and education. The rally began at Chowk Nawan Shehr and finished at the Multan Press Club.

More than 200 participants carried placards and banners inscribed with slogans that said ‘people want peace not war’, and that funds must be allocated to health and education instead of defence.

The banners also said that over 40 percent of the population of Pakistan lives below the poverty line and they need resources not ammunition. The rally was led by Mansoor Karim Siyal, Abdul Sattar Thaheem, Hakim Haider Iqbal and Haji Ahmed Nawaz Somroo.

“It is a binding duty of SAARC countries to resolve their disputes and put themselves on the path to progress and prosperity by signing a no-war pact, reducing their armed forces and promoting joint trade among members to meet the challenges of the world trade order,” said Mansoor Karim Siyal.

He said that there should be no visa restrictions among SAARC countries and they should be provided with tariff, customs and excise duty facilities and that free trade should be promoted to strengthen their economies. The rally was also attended by Syed Hassan Raza Bukhari, Niaz Gul Khan, Azam Abbas, Malik Shafqat Maitla, Mulazim Hussain Baluch, Muhammad Idress Joiya and many others.

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