Remembrance: Rights activists condemn NATO strike, caution security apparatus

A candlelight vigil was held to express solidarity with the families of the fallen soldiers.

ISLAMABAD:

Activists of civil society organisations condemned Saturday’s NATO air strike on a security checkpost killing 24 troops but asked the military establishment to stop helping terrorist groups.

The members of Insani Haqooq Ittehad (IHI), a conglomerate of civil society organisations, stated that the Pakistani military was as much to blame for the tragedy as according to them it is patronizing the terrorist groups. The vigil held outside Mr Books in Super Market, was participated in by 80 IHI activists to express sympathy with the families of the fallen soldiers and caution the military establishment to stop providing safe havens to terrorists and making young soldiers and civilians fodder of the senseless war on terrorism. “Until this doesn’t stop, our soldiers and civilians will be the target of crossfire again,” said Marvi Sirmad, a human rights activist and one of the speakers.

Other who spoke on the occasion included Simi Kamal, Samina Nazeer, Waseem Wagha, Farzana Bari and Rehana Hashmi.

They criticised the unholy alliance between Pakistan and the US and contradictions in foreign and security policies which served the interests of the US. They called for a revision of policies giving the people’s security top priority. The speakers also noted that there is a rising need to promote peace and mutual coexistence with neighbouring countries to end wastage of resources on war and destruction.

They criticised the army chief for not protesting civilian deaths at the hands of the Taliban and other extremist forces. Civil society feel that unless both forms of aggression are not equally condemned, the attacks will continue to rise in frequency.

Candles were lit to show support and solidarity with the mourning families.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2011.