400 Indian delegates to attend 3-day peace moot in Pak from Sat

Peshawar, May 20 : At least 400 Indian delegates are likely to pass through the Wagah Border on Friday to participate in the Eighth Joint Convention of Indo-Pak Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), in Peshawar from May 24 to 27.

A total of 418 Indians have applied for Pakistani visa to attend the three-day Convention.

The delegates, mostly peace-activists, writers, lawyers, academicians, human rights workers and other civil society members, would be received at the Wagah Border by Pakistani peace activists and members of the Forum.

The proposed agenda for the convention is "Imperialism and challenges to democracy". The convention would also pay tribute to Late Nirmala Deshpande, a known Ghandian and peace activist, who was an active member of the Forum and had strived for improving ties between India and Pakistan, reported the Dawn.

Speakers at the Convention would address different important issues, including 'War on Terrorism and Impact on People's Rights', 'Security, Sovereignty and Democracy', 'Economic and Military Imperialism', externally imposed militarization, Internal militarisation Inc, impact of militarisation on women/ gender, Kashmir etc.

The participants would pass a joint declaration which would be followed by a joint press conference on the last day of the convention on May 26.

"The first day of the convention would be dedicated to Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, popularly known as Bacha Khan, and his message of non-violence and peace," the paper quoted Advocate Qaiser Khan, the provincial secretary general of the Forum, as saying.

He added that a youth assembly would be held on the second day of the convention which would be attended by the youngsters from both the countries.

Office bearers of the Forum are presently negotiating with different high-ups in the Pakistan government so as to ensure provision of visas to maximum number of delegates. Brisk preparations are said to be underway in Peshawar, which will be hosting the Convention second time after a decade. The Forum has constituted various committees for looking after different arrangements.

ANI