ISLAMABAD, Feb 12: Civil society organisations on Thursday called for an end to the ongoing military operations and inhuman acts of militants, as they projected the plight of the people in violence-hit NWFP and its adjoining tribal areas.

According to a statement, the demand was made during a daylong seminar on “Violence in the Name of Religion and Extremism” organised by the Insani Haqooq Ittehad to mark the “Pakistani Women’s Day”.

The event is observed to recall the police brutality against women in Lahore on February 12, 1983. The state violence had further galvanised the women’s movement. The seminar was organised to give voice to the voiceless people of Swat and highlight their miseries.

On the occasion, speakers said the government must stop pounding suspected targets indiscriminately, as it was causing widespread death and destruction among the civilians.

Giving their recommendations for effectively combating the militancy, they said all decisions concerning the government policy must be taken by the elected representatives and the military must be subservient to them.

“The government must dispel the impression that the army and Taliban are two sides of the same coin,” they added.

About provision of relief to the people displaced internally in the wake of the violence, the speakers said the affected population must be provided with basic needs, such as food, shelter, education and health facilities.

They also stressed jamming radio broadcasts that were spewing hate and violence, and terrorising the people. The speakers criticised the federal and provincial government representatives for not visiting the affected area to take first-hand information and show solidarity with the victims.

The function was attended by the members of the parliament, government representatives, students, activists and the internally displaced persons from Swat and other violence-hit areas of NWFP.

Among others, the seminar was addressed by Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on Social Sector Shehnaz Wazir Ali, Awami National Party Additional Secretary-General Hashim Babar and MNA from Bajaur Agency Shaukatullah.

Women Action Forum: The Women Action Forum (WAF) also marked the national women’s day by holding a discussion in which the participants urged the government and the society to show zero tolerance towards any kind of violence against women.

Meanwhile, despite instructions by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to arrange special activities on the day, no event was organised at the official level.