Venue: St. Xavier College's Auditorium, Mumbai
Day & Time: 25th July, 2007 / 06.00 pm

Speakers:   Ms. Asma Jahangir
Justice (Retd.) Nasir Aslam Zahid
Admiral (Retd.) L Ramdas
Prof. Pushpa Bhave to preside

Friends!
Democracy and Democratic values are most important today. Democracy and Peace are like two sides of the same coin. People in South Asia are fighting for a true democracy. We have seen valiant battle fought in Nepal for the democracy and ouster of monarchy. Common people in Nepal do not want even Constitutional Monarchy.

Bangladesh is also aspiring for true democracy. The aspirations for Democracy in Pakistan are most visible. In reality Pakistan is in turmoil. Pakistanis have waged a battle for Democracy and are aspiring for it. The military is trying to present itself as a defender of modern values and religious moderation, popular grievances are facing the danger of being co-opted by religious extremism, mainstream political parties are taking ambivalent and opportunist stances, and the democracy movement itself is appearing to present only a somewhat limited agenda for "democratic" reforms.

Today hundreds and thousands of people are struggling for Democracy in Pakistan. Since the removal of Chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Choudhury on March 9, 2007, the movement for the Independence of Judiciary and Democracy has got tremendous boost. The Pakistanis are tired of military regimes and they want Democracy to be restored.

The scenario in India is also equally bad. Communal forces have threatened Democratic values and have posed challenge to the Democratic, Secular India.

We need to have solidarity amongst South Asians and network of just struggles. It will also help us in establishing South Asian identity.

In this background, Pakistan-India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) and Peace Mumbai along with St. Xavier's College has organized a Public Meeting of Ms. Asma Jahangir, Leading Human Rights Activist of Pakistan & UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion & Belief; Mr. Justice Nasir Aslam Zahid, Retired Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan; Admiral (Retd.) L Ramdas, on "Democratic Aspirations of Pakistan".

Do come; and tell others.