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Marathon race peaceful

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: The "mixed marathon race", involving members of both sexes, organised by the Punjab Government in Lahore on Sunday passed off peacefully despite threats by activists of religious parties and organisations to disrupt it. There were no reports of any untoward incident throughout the heavily guarded route. A day before the event authorities in the province had detained scores of activists of the religious parties. According to Punjab Government over 18,000 people including women participated in the marathon. Some 160 foreign athletes also joined in. Ethiopian athlete Helefom Abebe won the race in two hours 16 minutes three seconds, organisers said. Police on motorbikes escorted the runners and helicopters flew overhead as the marathon went ahead as scheduled. Punjab Chief Minister Pervez Illahi had earlier warned that those who tried to disrupt the event would be dealt with sternly. "This race will show to the world the soft image of Pakistan," he told media. The event has been denounced by the religious parties as against the cultural, social and religious "norms" of Pakistan and they had threatened to disrupt the race.

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