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The initiative towards formation of Pakistan-India People’s Forum for Peace and Democracy was taken in late 1993 and the first joint declaration was announced on September 4, 1994 at Lahore. The objective of this initiative was to facilitate common people in both the countries to listen to voices that are different from the belligerent voices of the respective Governments. It is with the objective of asserting the sanity of the peace loving people of India and Pakistan that concerned citizens and groups in both the countries have come together to formulate strategies for promoting peace and strengthen democracy in the sub-continent. Democratic rights activists, business people, trade unionist, environmentalists, women’s movements, artists, writers, social workers, professionals, academicians, students, scientists and mass movements have joined hands in a concerted attempt to persuade their respective governments to enter into meaningful negotiations and adopt policies that will reduce tensions and pave way for lasting peace and friendship. To this end, the Forum has organised so far seven Joint Conventions, the first in Delhi February 1995, the second in Lahore in November 1995, the third in Calcutta in December 1996, the fourth in Peshawar in November 1998, the fifth in Bangalore in April 2000, the sixth in Karachi in December 2003 and the seventh in Delhi in February 2005.Each convention was attended by an average of 350 delegates - from both the countries - in historic meetings that discussed five major issues:
In all the seven joint conventions, the themes were discussed in groups and in plenaries and specific recommendations were made. At the end of each Joint Convention common resolutions and declarations were made. Copies of which were sent to both the Governments. |