IN a country which has witnessed monstrous bouts of sectarian violence, even symbolic gestures by clerics belonging to different schools of thought can send a strong message. In this regard, joint prayers offered at a Karachi madressah recently by ulema representing Pakistan’s four major sects and sub-sects — Barelvi, Deobandi, Shia and Ahle Hadith — were meant to be a display of unity. The Pakistan Ulema Council chief, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, who was present, said the exercise demonstrated “growing tolerance among........

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