May 6, 2025
Staff Report
LAHORE
In the backdrop of the recent tension between Pakistan and India and the war rhetoric across the border, demonstrations for peace were organized in Islamabad and Lahore by the Joint Action Committee for People’s Rights. The demos were held to raise voice against the growing tension between the two countries and to express the feelings of the citizens for peace and stability in the region.
The protesters raised slogans like ‘No to war, yes to peace’ and held placards with similar messages promoting peace, dialogue, human welfare, and development. People from different walks of life, including journalists, human rights activists, artists, teachers, and students, participated in the demonstrations.
Participants said that any war between the two nuclear powers is not a solution to any problem, instead war would only cause irreparable harm to the people of both countries and also endanger peace of the entire region. They stressed that both countries’ governments should move towards resolving issues through dialogue and diplomatic rather than war rhetoric.
Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) co-chairperson and senior journalist Munizae Jahangir who attended the demonstration, spoke to Voicepk.
“Governments should take immediate steps to reduce tensions while showing responsibility,” she said.
Noted artist and social activist Salima Hashmi said that it was ordinary citizens would have to bear the brunt of war.
“People are suffering on both sides of the border, they don’t need war, they need food, education, health and employment,” she said. “We have to put humanity first.”
Senior journalist and analyst Imtiaz Alam also attended the demonstration.
He said, “Both countries should stop threatening each other with war. Pakistan and India have to adopt a common strategy against terrorism. Proxy wars push the region towards further instability, they must end immediately.”
Other participants in the protests also said they wanted peace, prosperity, education and development. They said that the war environment harms the people economically, mentally and socially. The protesters demanded that the Pakistani government make serious diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions. The protests ended peacefully and the participants expressed hope that the leaders of the region will prioritize the problems of the people and choose the path of peace, brotherhood and development instead of war.