Conference In K-P: Int’l moot discusses intolerance in society

Director Charity Reprieve emphasises he felt no fear in Peshawar, proposes memorial for victims of drone strikes.

PESHAWAR:

Intolerance is a universal phenomenon that exists even in western countries, said Clive Straford Smith, Director Charity Reprieve. He was speaking at a 10-day international conference on intolerance in society titled “Face Off”. The conference was jointly organised by Directorate of Culture, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Hunarkada College of Visual and Performing Arts.

The conference, attended by prominent artists representing literature, visual and performing mediums of art as well as media and journalism is aimed at sensitising society to growing intolerance.

Smith emphasised that he felt no fear in Peshawar and proposed building a fully funded memorial for all innocent victims of US drone strikes. Expressing anguish at the negative image of the province, K-P Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain noted that Pakhtun’s were a peace loving people who were demonised by foreign elements as extremists.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2012.