HYDERABAD, Jan 13: The Pakistan-India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy, Hyderabad chapter, at a meeting held the other day expressed grave concern over the mounting tension between Pakistan and India.

Sikandar Ali Khan Talpur presided over the meeting.

The meeting expressed hope that the heads of India and Pakistan would resolve the contentious issues through dialogue.

It regretted that the UN had taken no practical steps to defuse the crisis. It called upon the world powers to stop South Asia from becoming a battleground.

It feared that conventional war could turn into a nuclear war which would create a major disaster in both the countries.

It elucidated that the major part of the population of both the countries was against war and terrorism.

It adopted several resolutions calling upon both the governments to withdraw their forces from the borders, end war hysteria, and restore air and land communication.

Those who addressed the meeting included Prof Khalid Wahab, Dr. Merajuddin, Khursheed Ahmed Shaikh, James Francis, and Ruffin Wilson.

PEACE RALLY: Activists of the Azizabad Social Welfare Association under the aegis of the Khadim-i-Pakistan Organization Qasimabad held a peace rally outside the Hyderabad Press Club on Sunday to promote peace between India and Pakistan.

Addressing the rally, Ali Hassan Jatoi, Gulbahar Channa, Ali Murtaza Khoso, and M. Ismail Jatoi called upon the governments of India and Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint.

They raised slogans in favour of President Pervez Musharraf.