PESHAWAR, Dec 31: Civil society organisations will hold a series of functions today (Sunday) across the country in order to mark the January 1st as solidarity day and to urge the government to make strenuous efforts for restoration of peace, security and protection of the lives and properties of the people.

Speaking at a joint press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday Citizens Rights and Sustainable Development chief executive Idrees Kamal accompanied by many others said the solidarity day would be marked at 140 locations in the country, including Fata and all the frontier regions.

Nusrat Ara of South Asia Partnership (SAP), Dr Sarfaraz Khan, director Area Study Centre, University of Peshawar, Shereen Javed of Aurat Foundation, Ms Nazaar from Khwendo Kor, Prof Ejaz from University of Peshawar and Sameen Afridi of CRSD were also present.

Mr Kamal said they would unite people for expressing their contempt at the unabated torture, targeted killings and kidnappings that have made the lives of common people miserable across Pakistan and particularly in Balochistan.

“The state’s failure to apprehend perpetrators of the recent spate of kidnappings and killings had further increased peoples’ anxiety and encouraged impunity of culprits that roam freely without any fear or reprisal,” he said.

Similarly, the rest of participants also said that it was the responsibility of the state to provide life security, livelihood and liberty to all citizens without any discrimination of religion, sect, class or clan and gender. They added the state must implement laws that protected citizens against violence and repeal discriminatory laws at the earliest.

Referring to the Amnesty International, they said that it had demanded urgent action to prevent any form of tyranny and injustice and called on the state to promote harmony and tolerance among communities and religious groups.

The civil society activists said crippling gas and electricity loadshedding and low pressure was a reflection of poor governance, misplaced priorities and lack of accountability on part of the government.

The AI, they maintained, demanded increase in investment in public utilities, education, health, justice and equal opportunities to all citizens as these include the basic facilities of life.

They said thousands of citizens in villages, towns and cities would join these rallies and call upon the state institutions to play due role under the parameters defined by the constitution of Pakistan.—Bureau Report