Protest against seminary children massacre in Qunduz

LAHORE: In a rare show of solidarity between Deobandi and Barelvi schools of thought, hundreds of children Huffaz of Barelvi seminaries staged demonstration against the massacre of over 200 Huffaz children of Qunduz seminary in Afghanistan who adhered to rival Deobandi school of thought, who were slain last week by US and Afghan bombing.

Historically, Deobandi and Barelvi schools of thought are considered rivals on academic grounds. But over the last 20 years, especially after 9-11, this rivalry has been fanned so much that it came out of books and manifested itself on the streets. However, the US bombardment on innocent minor children attending the convocation after completion of Quran Hifz tends to bridge this rivalry, at least for Pakistan.

Under the aegis of Tahaffuz Namoos-e-Risalat Mahaz (TNRM), a platform of over two dozen Barelvi organisations, hundreds of Huffaz children aged between 6 years to 14 gathered outside Lahore Press Club Monday to condemn US and Afghan regimes for deliberately targeting fellow children in Afghanistan. Led by TNRM secretary general Muhammad Ali Naqshbandi and other leaders, the children were holding banners and placards, and raised slogans against the US and Afghan armies. The banners these children were holding said that all Muslim children in Pakistan and Afghanistan were linked with Islamic bond of brotherhood.