Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
ASIF SHAHZAD
Associated Press
LAHORE, Pakistan - Thousands of men and women ran in a coed marathon Sunday in the eastern city of Lahore, despite opposition by radical Islamic parties who said the race should have been segregated by gender.
More than 30,000 people, including 50 athletes from 15 countries, registered to participate in different categories of the marathon, said organizer Ghaus Akbar.
"Although some religious elements had opposed the marathon, we have made best possible arrangements to avoid any untoward incident," he said.
Lahore police chief Khawaja Khalid Farooq also said police were guarding the routes of the race, which was first held in 2005.
Two years ago, supporters of the country's Islamic parties threw stones at some of the runners, claiming that such events were not allowed by Islam. Last year, dozens of Islamists held a peaceful rally against the race.
Ameer ul-Azeem, spokesman for the country's most organized Jamaat-e-Islami party said Saturday that his party was against the marathon as "such sports events are aimed at spreading obscenity." However, he said they had no plan to disrupt the race.
Meanwhile, President Gen. Pervez Musharraf met with some of the marathon's participants and congratulated its organizers, saying "these healthy activities are good for Pakistan, and such marathons should also be held in other cities."
Musharraf said people had rejected extremist elements by participating in the marathon.