LAHORE: A multi-party conference of the groups belonging to Sunni school of thought has announced a protest drive against desecration of shrines in Syria.

Presided over by Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan’s Qari Zawwar Bahadur and Pir Ijaz Hashmi, the conference held here on Wednesday announced holding protest demonstrations outside mosques across the country on Friday (tomorrow).

In the next phase, the parties would take out a rally from Hazrat Ali Hajvery’s (Data Sahib) shrine on April 15.

A committee headed by Pir Ijaz Hashmi was also formed at the conference which would call on envoys of Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and other Muslim countries where desecration of shrines was allegedly going on. The envoys would be apprised of the sentiments of Pakistani Muslims with regard to such incidents.

The participants were of the opinion that lack of a platform for Sunni groups had rendered them voiceless on certain issues. They suggested formation of a joint ‘force’ to take up issues important to the sect with the government and other authorities. However, no final decision could be taken in this respect.