Sindh Secular Forum
Background: Extremism is taking roots in Pakistani society with every passing day. Recent episode of Swat and Buner has alarmed secular and progressive forces of Pakistan . The level of helplessness of state machinery and weaker resistance from civil society is a matter of shear concern. It is a well recognized fact that Sindhis have a history of secular, progressive and democratic values. The great secular Sufis e.g. Shah Latif Bhitai and Sachal Sarmast were sons of Sindh. Literature, art and civil society of Sindh has always uphold secular values. Not very long ago, Sinshis were blamed traitors of country because they refused to accept a state structure based on religion. Sindh is the only province where sectarian conflicts could not take deep roots and inter-faith harmony has been the hallmark of Sindhi society. Today’s world powers struggling for secular societies should have considered Sindhis as their natural allies. This is the time when the land of Sufis Sindh should once again take lead on resisting rapid growth of religious extremism. Sindh Secular Forum is an initiative of progressive like minded activists of Sidh.
Objective: Sindh Secular Forum will launch a movement to condemn religious extremism in Pakistan and will mobilize country people to unite against the rise of fundamentalists rule
Strategy: It will be an independent forum without any political agenda. The sole purpose of the forum would be strengthening secular values in Pakistan . The Forum would adopt the following methods of peaceful struggle against fundamentalism
Objective: Sindh Secular Forum will launch a movement to condemn religious extremism in Pakistan and will mobilize country people to unite against the rise of fundamentalists rule
Strategy: It will be an independent forum without any political agenda. The sole purpose of the forum would be strengthening secular values in Pakistan . The Forum would adopt the following methods of peaceful struggle against fundamentalism
- Organizing cultural events to promote secular values in society
- Promote women participation in all its activities and would struggle for greater participation of women in all spheres of life in the country
- Organizing seminars, workshops and other public forums to educate people on the challenges posed by rise of extremist forces in Pakistan
- Mobilize media to promote secular values through programs and writings
- Organize a conference of progressive intellectuals, writers and media persons to build consensus against fundamentalism in society