PESHAWAR: Speakers at a youth festival on Sunday stressed the need for shunning hatred on the basis of religion, sect and belief and for extending support to each other as Pakistanis.

The youth festival was organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan at the Peshawar Press Club here.

People, including women and children, from different minority communities of Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat, Nowshera and Karak districts were in attendance.

HRCP’s provincial coordinator Shahidullah Jan, regional coordinator Fazal Karim, assistant programme coordinator Mohammad Qasim, and students of different educational institutions, spoke on the occasion.

They said that the youth festival was aimed at promoting harmony among the people of different communities, religions and sects and making them feel that they were one nation.

Urging the people to forge unity among their ranks on the basis of one nation, the speakers said that only unity could portray them as a civilized nation in the eyes of the international community.

They stressed the need for tolerance, equality and harmony in order to help restore peace in the country and ensure development of the society.

The speakers also emphasised that the people should respect each other on the basis of humanity and help protect their rights.

Published in Dawn, November 24th , 2014