Date: 15 December 2003
Press Release
Karachi-to-Delhi Friendship March
June-October 2004
Karachi: A four-month long Friendship March from Karachi to Delhi has been proposed by Pakistan-India Peopleís Forum for Peace and Democracy to mobilize public opinion for peace and friendship between India and Pakistan. The idea of Friendship March has been initiated by Dr. Sandeep Pandey, National Convener, National Alliance of Peopleís Movement, India.
Dr. Pandey, renowned social activist from India, holds a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and has been working as a full time social activist for the last 10 years. He has been actively involved in anti-communalism movement in Ayodhya, and nuclear disarmament, anti-globalization and anti-corruption campaigns being run in India. Dr. Pandey had initiated and led an 88-day peace march from Pokhran to Saranath in 1999 to campaign for nuclear disarmament. In 2002, Dr. Pandey led a 26-day peace march from Chitrakoot to Ayodhya for communal harmony.
The proposed 1700 kilometer long Friendship March will begin on June 11, 2004 and will reach Lahore on 4 September, 2004, the day of the 10th anniversary of the formation of Pakistan-India Peopleís Forum. After crossing over the border at Wagah, the Friendship March will end in New Delhi at Rajghat on 2nd October 2004. A joint convention of Pakistan and India chapters of the Forum will be held at the conclusion of the march in New Delhi.
The marchers will walk 15 to 20 km on an average per day, stopping over at night in scheduled villages, towns and cities enroute, interacting with thousands of common people in both the countries, seeking their endorsement for accelerating the peace process.
Dr. Sandeep Pandey,
National Convener, National Alliance of Peopleís Movement, India
Karamat Ali
Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER), Karachi[ See Related News Reports from the Pakistani Press in English and Urdu ]
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