KARACHI, June 6: Amid prevailing standoff between Pakistan and India, signatories of a peace petition have deplored all forms of violence and called upon leaders of the two countries to resort to pacifist settlement of their political disputes.

In a petition signed by over 2,000 individuals through internet, copy of which has been sent to Gen Pervez Musharraf by its initiator, Nasim Beg, they have pleaded for an end to violence in the subcontinent, in all its forms, and diversion of resources towards economic development.

They have called upon leaders of India and Pakistan to declare that no form of violence or threat of violence shall be used by either country as a means of settling political disputes between the two countries.

Leaders of India and Pakistan have been urged to condemn the arms race, specially nuclear arms race, due to its serious consequences for both the countries and the world at large. They called upon them to initiate cooperation in the economic sphere to ensure that poor of both countries get their due share of national and regional cake.

They have also called upon the arch enemies to declare that each country would do all within their power to prevent their citizens from intervening in the affairs of the other country.

It is their view that violence will achieve nothing except adding to the sufferings of the ordinary citizens. The signatories have also emphasised the need for ensuring promotion of mutual trust and confidence between the people of their country, through unrestricted travel.

The petition has been posted on the following websites: www.petitiononline.com/bawabeg/petition.html and www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?bawabeg&l