Civil society demands secular, democratic state

LAHORE:

Academicians, intellectuals, writers and human rights activists demanded that Pakistan be made a secular-democratic federal nation state, while paying tribute at a reference to the late Professor Dr Anis Alam as a scientist and pedagogue of rationalism and humanism.

Speakers paid rich tribute to the invaluable contribution made by Dr Anis Alam. They proposed to award him Nishan-e-mtiaz for his services to the nation.

They called for the separation of state and education from religion and the creation of an enlightened and egalitarian society.

The civil society representatives called upon the people to stand against the theocratisation of Pakistan, sectarianism and terrorism.