Pakistan-India People's Forum for Peace and Democracy held a Peace
Convention in Karachi on June 8, 2002. The convention was attended by
a large number of lawyers, human rights and peace activists, workers,
women's rights activists, representatives of media, political parties
and other civil society actors. The central leadership of all major
political parties including PPP, MQM, PML, National Workers Party was
also present in the convention.

Justice retired Fakhruddin G Ibrahim, Sobho Gian Chandani, Dr.
Mubarak Ali, Dr. Haroon Ahmed, M.L. Shahani, Ehsan Ullah Khan, Baseer
Naveed, Saleem Raza, Hassan Abidi, Khalid Alieg, Omar Farooq and
Shahid Fiaz spoken on the occasion. The convention adopted the
following resolution urging both Pakistani and Indian governments:

RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY PIPFPD CONVENTION IN KARACHI ON JUNE 8, 2002

This convention of Karachi Chapter of Pakistan-India People's Forum
for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) expresses profound abhorrence of the
highest ever military tension between Indian and Pakistani armies
that stand ready to go to war with each other.

The people of Pakistan cognizant of the danger of the threatened war
spinning out of control to become a nuclear one, demand that Pakistan
government should do everything in its power to effect de-escalation
of tension through immediate unilateral withdrawal of troops from
forward war deployments to their peace time stations. We expect that
common Indians will similarly force their government to do likewise.

The convention also urges both governments to do everything possible
to remove the exciting causes that are pushing them to adopt war like
stance. We demand them to enter into a wide ranging dialogue with a
view to solving all contentious issue on democratic principles. If
the bilateral effort to start the dialogue does not succeed, both
sides should utilize the facilitation of a common foreign friend.

The convention recognizes and asserts that the decision to severe all
land, rail and air communication links should be immediately
rescinded without delay and the people of India and Pakistan be
enabled to meet each other freely with a view to building bridges of
peace. The visa regimes should also be eased immediately for the
purpose. Let peace be built by people who need it most.