KARACHI, Dec 17: All the political parties and citizens including religious minorities and other disadvantaged groups should be allowed to participate in the political process without any discrimination so that real democracy could be strengthened.

This was demanded in a resolution adopted at the conclusion of a two-day event organised by an NGO, Aurat Foundation, at the YMCA on Sunday.

They urged the armed forces not to interfere in political matters, which were creating resentment among the masses against the forces.

Through other resolutions, the participants further demanded that all laws discriminatory towards women, minorities and other vulnerable groups of the society be abolished and legislation regarding domestic violence, customary practices like sawara, Karo-kari, wani etc be formulated.

They called for starting a dialogue between the federal government and the provinces to work out a comprehensive framework for provincial autonomy.

They also called for restoration of trade union activities in every sector. It called for a uniform educational system and equal opportunities in employment and other fields. They also called for equal wages for women.

One of the resolutions urged the government to initiate a dialogue with all its neighbours including Iran, Afghanistan and India etc as it was crucial for the country’s security. It also criticised globalization and war on terror which had sharply divided societies around the globe. It said that with free market economy poor nations were getting poorer and rich were getting richer.

Earlier, speaking at the peace assembly senior columnist M. B. Naqvi called for curtailing defence budget and increasing funds for health and education etc.

Zahida Hina called for providing women with equal rights and called for abolition of discriminatory laws. She said that women did not need protection; they needed equal rights and opportunities.

Shahid Fiaz criticised the government for taking dictate and forming its foreign policy on orders from the western powers owing to which western frontiers of the country had become dangerous. He said that country’s foreign policy be prepared for the benefit of the citizens and steps be taken to improve relations with western neighbours – Iran and Afghanistan – which were passing through a critical phase. He also called for expediting the peace process with India and initiating similar process with brotherly Islamic countries – Iran and Afghanistan -- on the western border.

Father Joseph Paul called for initiating an inter-faith dialogue to spread peace and harmony among various religious groups living in the region so that with peace in the region governments could work for the betterment of the masses.

Various sessions and workshops were held during the two-day event. Former chief of Women Commission Justice (retd) Majida Rizvi, former Khairpur district Nazim Nafisa Shah, Rakhshanda Naz and Faiza Burney spoke at the women’s assembly held to discuss violence against women.

Former judge of the Supreme Court Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid, Noor Naz Agha, Mehnaz Rehman and others spoke at the workshop on “State violence – law as an instrument of violence”.

Mariam Palijo, Kaiser Bengali, Dr Azra T. Saeed, Perveen Rehman, Malka Khan, and others spoke at the seminar on globalization. Huma Baqai, Nuzhat Kidvai, Rafat Yasmin and others spoke on seminar on war on terror and its impacts (economic violence). Workshops on domestic violence, women in media, reclaiming public space, feminism in South Asia, health issues etc were also organised. Aisha Bedaar, Hina Tabassum, Arif Hassan, Naheed Syed, Seema Shaikh, Nasreen Siddiqui and Zubieda Mustafa and others spoke. The event concluded with a cultural show where street theatre group led by classical dancer Sheema Kirmani presented skits, qawwali, folk dances and a classical dance performance.