LAHORE, Jan 31: Over a thousand people from all walks of life took part in a three-hour long ‘peace mela’ on The Mall on Saturday, voicing their opposition to war with India and the Talibanisation of Pakistan.

Setting out from Regal Chowk around 3:30pm, protesters held white flags for peace as well as their party flags and chanted slogans reflecting their aspirations. The mela brought together a broad coalition that cut across social, economic, and ideological divides.

Dozens of youngsters from public schools dominated one side of the Mall Road, while Communist Mazdoor Kissan Party (CMKP) activists held sway on the opposite side.

Members of farmers’ associations and trade unionists from across the province joined in the fervour, while lawyers, human rights activists, Pakistan People’s Party workers, hundreds of students from Punjab University and Beaconhouse National University, and other members of Lahore’s civil society were in the procession when it marched down the road. Drummers struck up rhythms and the activists accompanied the drums with outbursts of dance, blocking traffic for over two hours.

Leaflets were distributed to passersby and motorists, while pan wallahs set up stalls in the vicinity, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Speakers took turns to mount the “peace bus” and made impassioned cries for peace with neighbouring India, warning that Pakistan could not survive a war.

Shahzad, a member of the CMKP said: “How can we go to war when people are dying of hunger here already?”

Hasan Rahman, a student from FAST, held a banner proclaiming “Peace not pieces”.

“Unfortunately, too many people romanticise the idea of war in this country. We need to push back against those voices,” he said.

Some had the flag of India painted on their cheeks while others showed solidarity with the people of Gaza. Later, a group of schoolchildren staged a street play depicting a mock battle ending in mass genocide.

Amar Jan, a leftwing activist, observed the march was much larger than many had expected it to be and was symbolic of the strength of liberal, secular forces. “Today we’ve matched the strength of major political parties and of the lawyers’ movement,” he said.

IA Rahman, Husain Naqi and Asma Jehangir of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Imtiaz Alam of the South Asia Free Media Association, Farzana Mumtaz of the South Asia Partnership, M Tehsin, Saeda Diep, Abdullah Malik, Raheem Haque and Salima Hashmi were among those present.