United: A rare display of sectarian unity

LAHORE:

Groups from various sects joined hands in a protest rally on The Mall on the Ishq-i-Rasool Day here on Friday.

Political and religious groups known to be antagonistic to each other carried their flags together as their trucks travelled in a single caravan.

One of the protestors on a vehicle arranged by the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM), a Shia organisation, held up both MWM and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) flags.

Several MWM speakers called for Shia-Sunni unity.

Similarly, some of the protesters in the SIC rally carried Jamatud Dawa flags. At Regal Chowk, Jamaat-i-Islami workers cordially received the SIC rally. A number of protesters carrying Sipah-i-Sahaba flags mixed with MWM protesters and raised slogans, including “Sunni Shia Bhai Bhai, America Teri Shamat!” (Sunni-Shia are now brothers, Bad news for you, America!).  Khalid Abbas, a Shia protester, said the Shia were being killed in Baloshistan and Gilgit by miscreants from other religious sects, they had ignored their grievances for the cause of protecting the honour of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).  He said the world needs to know that Muslims are united on the question of their religion.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2012.