In Lahore, the organisation took out a rally from Aiwan-e-Iqbal to Lahore Press Club, which was attended by hundreds of civil society activists and pacifists. The rally was attended by former president Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jahangir, Aurat Foundation Executive Director Nigar Ahmad, South Asia Partnership-Pakistan Executive Director Muhammad Tahseen, Aman Ittehad Provincial Convener Irfan Mufti, and activists.

LAHORE: Aman Ittehad, on Sunday, organised public rallies at 140 different locations across the country to mark Solidarity Day. Almost 1.5 million people from various walks of life attended the rallies, including a good number of students, youth, lawyers, teachers, and minorities’ members.
In Lahore, the organisation took out a rally from Aiwan-e-Iqbal to Lahore Press Club, which was attended by hundreds of civil society activists and pacifists. The rally was attended by former president Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jahangir, Aurat Foundation Executive Director Nigar Ahmad, South Asia Partnership-Pakistan Executive Director Muhammad Tahseen, Aman Ittehad Provincial Convener Irfan Mufti, and activists.

Published in Daily Times on 2nd January, 2012

Traders, labourers, students, female political activists and members of civil society organisations participated in a peace rally that started from the Haripur Press Club.

The rally was part of a nationwide series of Aman Ittehad rallies held simultaneously in 140 locations including Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Another rally was held at the main bazaar in Abbottabad, where Tehrik Hukook-e-Hazara Chairperson Ali Asghar Khan expressed his concern over the growing number of target killings and kidnappings in the country, terming it a failure of the state’s machinery. “The state must be held accountable for its inability to protect the fundamental rights of its citizens,” he said.

While speaking about the issue of Balochistan, Khan said that the continued spate of violence in the region was worrisome and called for a political resolution, adding that the government must provide a roadmap for peace that reflects the aspirations of Balochis.

He stressed for an uninterrupted corruption-free democratic system with the supremacy of parliament. He condemned the government’s misplaced budget priorities and demanded a reduction in military spending so that urgent investments for gas, electricity, health, education and justice to citizens could be implemented.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd,  2012

The rally – Solidarity Day – started from Aman Park and ended at Nishter Hall. Aman Ittehad is a citizen platform striving for peace, democracy and justice in the country. ‘Solidarity Day’ is an expression of the power of ordinary citizens, and a call to exercise their choice and free will.

Participants of the rally called upon state institutions to play their role within the parameters defined by the Constitution to strengthen democracy. “Aman Ittehad demands urgent steps to prevent any form of tyranny and injustice,” the movement leaders said. “We call on the state to promote harmony and tolerance among communities and religious groups.”

Participants of the rally said they condemned all forms of violence and persecution in the name of ethnicity, sect or religion. “The state’s failure to apprehend perpetrators of the recent spate of kidnappings and killings has further increased public anxiety and encouraged greater impunity among perpetrators that are allowed to roam free without fear or reprisal,” the speakers said. staff report

Published in Daily times on 2nd January, 2012

Published in Pakistan Today on 1st January, 2012

Published in Pakistan Observer on  31st December, 2011

Thousands of citizens in villages, towns and cities will join the rallies.

They will call upon all state institutions to play their due role within the parameters defined by the Constitution of Pakistan.

They will also express their firm commitment to uninterrupted democracy and the supremacy of parliament, reiterating their belief that these are critical for stability and peace in the country.

This was stated by representatives of various civil society organisations and ‘Aman Ittehad’ in media briefing on Friday at Lahore Press Club.

They announced that Lahore Peace rally will be held on January 1, 2012, starting from Aiwan-e Iqbal, on Egerton Road.

The rally will be joined by thousands of peace activists, youth, women rights groups, trade unions and citizens.

‘Aman Ittehad’ demands urgent actions to prevent any form of tyranny and injustice.

It calls on the state to promote harmony and tolerance among communities and religious groups.

It encourages celebration of diversity and strives for citizens’ cultural and religious freedoms.

On ‘Solidarity Day 2012′, citizens will express their contempt at the unabated torture and target killings, and kidnappings that continue to cause untold misery to people across Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan.

The state’s failure to stem the tide of violence or to apprehend culprits reflects the kind of lawlessness that no civilised society can tolerate.

‘Aman Ittehad’ demands urgent and exemplary action against all those who have failed to protect citizens’ lives.

It urges immediate steps to reject any use of force or coercion and instead devise a political solution to redress long-standing grievances of the people of Balochistan.

A roadmap to peace must be made which should reflect the aspirations of the people of the province and respects their right to resources and opportunities.

‘Aman Ittehad’ also condemns all forms of violence and persecution in the name of ethnicity, sect or religion.

The state’s failure to apprehend perpetrators of the recent spate of kidnappings and killings has further increased public anxiety and encouraged greater impunity among perpetrators that are allowed to roam free without fear or reprisal.

‘Aman Ittehad’ reiterates that protection of lives, livelihood and liberty of all citizens, irrespective of sect, religion, gender, class or clan, is the duty of the state to which it must be held accountable.

The state must implement laws that protect citizens against violence and repeal discriminatory laws.

‘Aman Ittehad’ believes that years of military rule and poor governance have arrested the growth of the country and produced numerous challenges that require bold, innovative, and sincere solutions.

Consistent exploitation of people by unaccountable authority and incompetent administration in utter disregard of citizens’ interests has brought multiple miseries and deprivation.

Crippling shortages of utilities like gas and electricity are a reflection of poor governance, misplaced priorities, and the lack of accountability.

‘Aman Ittehad’ demands increased investment in public utilities that can be achieved by reducing non-development and military spending.

It also demands education, health, justice and equal opportunities for all citizens so that they may live in dignity.

It demands that the state must direct its special attention and effectively use public resources to ensure the wellbeing of the poor.

This will require a fundamental shift in Pakistan from a security state to a social welfare state.

‘Aman Ittehad’ is a citizen platform that is striving for peace, democracy and justice in Pakistan.

‘Solidarity Day’ is an expression of the power of ordinary citizens, and a call to exercise their choice and free will.

Media briefing was addressed by Irfan Mufti, provincial convenor of ‘Aman Ittehad’, Ms Mumtaz Moughal (of Aurat Foundation), Ms Umm-e-Laila Azhar (of Home Net Pakistan), Ghulam Fatima ( of Bonded Labour Federation Front), Ms Robina Jamil (of Working Women Organisation), Ms Bushra Khaliq (of Wise Organisation), Peter Jacob (of Justice and Peace Commission of Pakistan), and Farooq Tariq (of Labour Party Pakistan).

Published in Business Recorder on 31st December, 2011

Aman Ittehad Provincial Convener Irfan Mufti said this while addressing a press conference here on Friday. Mumtaz Moughal of Aurat Foundation, Um-e-Laila Azhar of Home Net Pakistan, Syyeda Ghulam Fatima of Bonded Labor Federation Front, Robina Jamil of Working Women Organisation, Bushra Khaliq of Wise Organisation, Peter Jacob of Justice and Peace Commission of Pakistan and Farooq Tariq of Labour Party were also present on the occasion.

Mufti said that the purpose of the rallies was to call upon all state institutions to play their due role within the parameters defined by the Constitution of Pakistan. He added that participants would also express their firm commitment to uninterrupted democracy and the supremacy of parliament, reiterating their belief that these are critical for stability and peace in the country. He said that Lahore Peace rally would start at 1 pm from Aiwan-e Iqbal to Lahore Press Club.

Mufti said that Aman Ittehad called upon the state to promote harmony and tolerance among communities and religious groups. He said on Solidarity Day 2012 citizens would express their contempt at the unabated torture and target killings, and kidnappings that continue to cause untold misery to people across Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan. He urged the government to devise a political solution to redress long-standing grievances of the people of Balochistan.

He added that crippling shortages of utilities like gas and electricity was a reflection of poor governance, misplaced priorities, and the lack of accountability. Mufti said that Aman Ittehad demanded increased investment in public utilities, which can be achieved by reducing non-development and military spending.

Published in Daily Times on 31st December, 2011