Rallies were held on 1 Jan 2011 across Pakistan in solidarity with those suffering violence and repression. We demand accountability of all, particularly those that use religion or any ideology to create hatred amongst the people of the region. We condemn the use of political, military or economic power to repress and exploit people. In doing so demand an end to the protection of all those state and non-state actors that take the law in their own hands and propagate or encourage militancy and extremism by their words or actions....

"It was an amazing show at Karachi inspite of a strike in the city. Hundreds of people turned up from all walks of life. Yes, it was beyond our expectations. Congrats with heart n soul to all friends!"

"Congratulations for successful celebration of solidarity day. Our first step towards peace and achievement."

"Solidarity Day was not just successful... it was an inspirational experience."

Its very very hard to stay focused in a country like Pakistan. Not so long ago in the ending weeks of 2009 I wrote a very upbeat cheery article about the incoming new year and how Karachi was going to celebrate it. On the 10th of Muharram, that article and any future hopes of celebration had to be shredded. Every one knows what happened that day during the bomb attack on a procession of our shia brethren and the horrible events which followed in which 3 city blocks of Karachi’s main whole sale markets were razed and torched to the ground. So I am not...

Iqbal Haider, 07  January 2010, 05:24am IST In the most gloomy atmosphere around us in Pakistan, we had no reason to celebrate New Year’s Eve. The morning of Jan 1, 2010, however, gave us a pleasant surprise when we read that the editors of the Jang group in Pakistan and of the Times of India group have taken a bold initiative to join hands for promotion of peace, economic prosperity, education and health much needed by the one-and-half-billion people of our two countries. This was not the only good news on Jan 1. The civil society in Pakistan,...

By Waseem Shamsi Saturday, 02 Jan, 2010 SUKKUR, Jan 1: Peace rallies were held in different cities and towns of Sindh on Friday to promote social harmony in the wake of a blast in the central Ashura procession and large-scale arson attacks in Karachi. More than 2,000 activists of political, religious and social organisations, on the call of the South Asia Partnership Pakistan, held a big protest rally in front of Sukkur Press Club against rising incidents of terrorism in the country. Carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against...

By Our Reporter Saturday, 02 Jan, 2010 LAHORE, Jan 1: The Coalition for Strengthening Democracy observed Solidarity Day on Friday by organizing peace rallies in more than 60 cities of the country to condemn `threats’ to democracy. The peace rally in the provincial metropolis was held from Regal Chowk to Faisal Square on The Mall. Representatives of civil society organisations, students, lawyers and trade unions participated in the rally carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans condemning terrorism. Addressing participants of the...

We Journalists, an effective voice of media people, human rights activists, environmentalists and political thinkers, organized a cultural activity on the occasion of Aman Ittehad – Solidarity Day, jointly with CPCS, Women Action Forum (WAF) and Saranga Literary Society on Friday, January 1, 2010 at Hyderabad Press Club. The event with concise introductory speeches, poetry recitation and lyrical music attracted a large number of people ranging from civil society, literature, journalists and teachers to intellectuals to share their little contribution...