KARACHI, Jan 1: A large number of people staged a demonstration at Karachi Press Club on Tuesday to press the governments of India and Pakistan to defuse tension at the borders and called on both the countries to resolve their disputes through negotiations.

The demonstration was organized by the Action Committee for Civic Problems. The speakers said history has proved that no dispute had ever been settled by waging a war.

The demonstrators urged both the governments to control extremist and fanatical elements in their countries.

Both Pakistan and India, they said, have been spending huge amounts on defence and called on both the countries to cut down their defence expenses and enhance spending on provision of basic facilities including health, education, sanitation and employment.

After terrorist attack on parliament in New Delhi, the Indian rulers have created an environment of war and sense of uncertainty in the region resulting in the crashing of stock markets in both the countries, they said.

“The process of dialogue between the two countries should be initiated and the rulers rather than making fiery speeches should try to meet and start negotiations,” the speakers said, adding that people-to-people contact between both the countries be initiated.

They demanded the restoration of bus and train services between the two countries and called for lifting of ban on the telecast of satellite channels, through cable operators, in both the countries.

They condemned the baton charge on the participants of a peace rally in Lahore on Monday in which many peace activists were injured.

Representatives of various NGOs and political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League, People’s Party, Jamiat Ulema-i- Pakistan, National People’s Party, Awami Tehrik, Sindh National Front, National Workers’ Party, Qaumi Jamhoory Party, Tehrik-i- Insaf, PILER etc. participated in the demonstration.

Volunteers offered: Two organizations have announced to recruit volunteers who would serve with the administration and the armed forces in different parts of the country, including the borders.

This was announced at a solidarity rally organized jointly by the Awami Ittehad Tehreek and Gen Pervaiz Musharraf Himayat Tehrik at the Mazar at the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah on Tuesday.

The speakers on the occasion criticised the Indian government for extending threats to Pakistan. They urged the international community to take notice of the Indian propaganda against Pakistan which was resulting in tension on the borders.

They advised the Indian leadership to initiate dialogue to resolve all the issues between the two countries.

Later the participants took out a procession and marched through various streets and reached Saddar later on.