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Lahore: December 16, 2016. (PCP) Leadership and members of Rwadari Tehreek and the people from different walks of life gathered for a Protest Camp in front of Punjab Assembly under the auspices of Rwadari Tehreek in the memory of all those who lost their lives at the Army Public School – Peshawar on 16 December 2014 and victims of all other terrorist attacks.
Rwadari Tehreek, the Organizer of the Protest Camp is a non-violent social movement initiated by concerned citizens of Pakistan to counter religious extremism, intolerance and terrorism and to promote the respect of all types of diversity including religious diversity, religious tolerance and to bridge gap between the people of different faiths and religions and different walks of life.
The participants of the Protest Camp expressed solidarity with the families of the innocent children & teachers who sacrificed their lives at the Army Public School and in other incidents of terrorism. They were carrying anti-extremism, and anti- terrorism banners and play-cards, chanted slogans and demanded the implementation of the National Action Plan in letter and spirit.
They unanimously demanded to Declare 16th December as a “National Day Against Extremism and Terrorism” in solidarity with all the victims of terrorism and also as a sign of commitment against religious extremism, intolerance and terrorism and also suggested that the Year 2016 should be declared as a Year for Rwadari (religious tolerance and respect of religious diversity).
Prominent social, religious and political personalities participated in the Rally including Mr. Samson Salamat (Chairman of Rwadari Tehreek), Mr. Abdullah Malik (President of Rwadari Tehreek), Ms. Sabira Asmat (President Rwadari Tehreek Punjab), Ms. Komal Patras ( Secretariat Incharge of Rwadari Tehreek), Rt. Rev. Bishop Munawar Rumal Shah, Mr. Rizwan Gill Advocate (President Rwadari Tehreek Lahore), Sadia Sohail Rana MPA (PTI), Rifat Saud (Women Wing PTI), Dr. Fauzia Saeed (Member Rwadari Tehreek Core Committee), Mr. Iftikhar Rasool (Senior Member Rwadari Tehreek) Naseer Ahmed (PPP Human Rights Wing), Pastor Emmanuel Khokhar (Senior Pastor Church of Pakistan), Imran Yousuf (Member Rwadari Core Committee), Pandit Bhaghat Lal Kokhar (representative of Hindu Community), Naveed Raphael, Humera Kokab, Rukhsana Liaqat, Vicky Manzoor, the honourable Members of Rwadari Tehreek.
Chairman Rwadari Tehreek Samson Salamat in his message said that “even after 2 year to the APS incident the whole nation is still in a shocking condition. Members of the Rwadari Tehreek in this situation strongly demands a stern action against the terrorists and militant outfits wherever they exist without any recognition of good or bad. The terrorists do not deserve any softness as they are killers of thousands of innocent citizens and should be brought before justice indiscriminately. The hideouts and Training Centers of the militant outfits should be targeted where they are training youth for terrorist acts and the access of the militant outfits to the educational institutions should be checked and banned”.
"In order to make sure that the society is free of intolerance, violent extremism and terrorism, the government needs to be more serious and practical to ensure the effective implementation of the “National Action Plan”. Especially the ban on hate speech should be implemented in letter and spirit and all those found in spreading hate speech through print or electronic media or through loud speakers should be apprehended indiscriminately and there should be speedy trial of all those who are apprehended on the charges of terrorism" Mr. Samson Salamat added.
Abdullah Malik, the President of Rwadari Tehreek said that “the financing of the terrorist groups should be checked strictly and stopped. And all those individuals or groups who are supporting the militants and terrorists openly or secretly should be held accountable”. Moreover a very comprehensive border security plans are urgently required to control the foreign terrorists for entering in Pakistan and using our soil for terrorist activities”.
Member Punjab Assembly Sadia Sohail Rana said that "16 December 2014- the day when our children were attacked at the Army Public School- Peshawar is the Blackest Day of our History and therefore we can never forget this inhumane act and this is the reason that we demand from the Government to Declare 16 December as a “National Day against Extremism and Terrorism”.
Naseer Ahmed of PPP Human Rights Wing said that "the syllabus of the educational institutions needs to be thoroughly checked and the material which spreads hate on religious, sectarian or any other basis should be eliminated from the curriculum and all those laws which are being misused to instigate people for violence in the society should be revisited. The financing of the terrorist groups should be checked strictly and stopped. And all those individuals or groups who are supporting the militants and terrorists openly or secretly should be held accountable”. Moreover a very comprehensive border security plans are urgently required to control the foreign terrorists for entering in Pakistan and using our soil for terrorist activities”.
Komal Patras said that “Peace cannot be achieved without Deweopanization of our society and therefore strong political will and an effective policy for Deweopanization should be formulated and a very heavy responsibility rests on the shoulders of major political stakeholders in this regard".
All the participants of the Protest Camp, particularly the leadership and the members of the Rwadari Tehreek pledged to continue their struggle against religious extremism, religious intolerance and terrorism to make Pakistan a peaceful place for all the citizens without any discrimination.
Under the banner of Rwadari Tehreek, the protest rallies, seminars, peace walks and candle-vigils were held in other cities of the countries on 16th December including Multan, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Umar Kote, Karachi, Chaman, Noshki, Turbat, Quetta, Toba Tek Singh, Hyderabad, Sanghar and may other cities.
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On demand of our readers, I have decided to release E-Book version of "Trial of Pakistani Christian Nation" on website of PCP which can also be viewed on website of Pakistan Christian Congress www.pakistanchristiancongress.org . You can read chapter wise by clicking tab on left handside of PDF format of E-Book.