United: ‘Let there be peace’

LAHORE:

Nearly 150 people joined the non-government organisations Peace for Life and Welfare Foundation for a peace walk from 10-Jail Road to Tollinton Chowk on Saturday, to mark the International Day for Peace.

Several groups of students, women, human rights activists, businessmen and lawyers participated in the walk.

They chanted “We want peace!” and carried banners and placards with slogans for peace, interfaith harmony and a call to end terrorism.

Bilal, a six-year old, held up a poster stating ‘Peace is all we want, it is our right’.

Peace for Life General Secretary Mahmood Khan said, “We will continue our struggle against terrorism.



We need to reclaim the Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam struggled for...where people could live in peace regardless of colour, cast or creed...with love and harmony.”

Khan said that the theme for the year was ‘education for peace’. He said the walk aimed to educate people about the importance of peace.

Peace for Life President Mian Amir Razzaq said, “We appreciate the government’s efforts for peace and hope that they will continue to strive for peace till it is achieved.”

He said the terrorists needed to be convinced that the nation was united. “No one can destroy us. Our struggle will continue till we achieve a peaceful Pakistan. It is in the terrorists’ own interest to surrender.”

Hira Khan, an activist, said, “We are tired of the intolerance in our society, and the threat of terrorism... but we haven’t given up... we will achieve our peaceful Pakistan soon.”

The International Day for Peace was observed all over the world on September 21.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2013.