Lahore massacre: Writers, experts for firm stance against extremists

ISLAMABAD:

Intellectuals, writers, artists and cultural experts have condemned the terrorist attack at a public park in Lahore and destruction of public property by protesters in Islamabad.

In a joint statement issued here on Monday, they termed massacre of innocent people, mostly children and women, a barbaric act and asked the government to bring the perpetrators to book.

They issued the statement after meeting on the sideline of a consultative conference organised by the Lok Virsa here on Monday for the formulation of the draft of National Culture Policy.

The representative gathering from all the provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir lauded the passage of the women protection bill in Punjab following Sindh and Balochistan and the prime minister’s resolute stance to make Pakistan a liberal and democratic country.

They said these steps taken recently would help move Pakistan in the direction of a progressive dispensation.

They also urged the government to establish its writ and implement pro-people and pro-women laws.

They expressed concern about rising intolerance and extremism in the society and called for steps to promote diversity and pluralism.

The experts also asked media to give space to alternative views, in order to change the convoluted mindset and build a different narrative about society and culture.

In this respect, they advocated giving more space to cultural activities.

Those who attended the meeting and signed the statement included, human rights defender and columnists IA Rehman and senior journalist Ghazi Salahuddin.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2016.