KARACHI, Nov 22: Social worker and artist Jimmy Engineer announced on Thursday that he would start his “Peace Walk” from Islamabad to New Delhi on Nov 30.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, he said that he was leaving for Islamabad on Nov 26 and would start the walk from the Parliament Building on the morning of Nov 30.
He said that he would walk around 25 kilometres every day, adding that he had no political motives and was staging the walk for the cause of peace.
He said that most people on both sides of the border loved peace and wanted to live in harmony. He said that peace could not be obtained by making statements and sitting in the drawing rooms. He explained that, that was why he was taking a practical step to spread the message of peace and love.
Jimmy Engineer, who was wearing a specially designed Kurta with Pakistani flag on his collar said that peace could only be achieved if people on both sides of the border tried to understand each other’s point of view, their beliefs, their way of life, thinking, etc.
He said that he had painted many paintings on the Partition and in a way he was also paying homage to the millions of refugees who had suffered untold miseries while travelling across the border during those difficult times. He said he was also taking the same route to experience the hardships that the refugees might have faced during the arduous journey.
He said that a van, having medical facilities, bed, etc, would be following him and Jamal Khan would drive the van up to the Wagah border. From there, he added, an Indian driver would take over and follow him to New Delhi. Slogans about peace were also written on the van.
He said that in order to pay homage to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah he would stage a token walk around the Mazar of the Quaid on Friday morning.
