Football cup between maddaris' student-minority youth highlights strong bond of interfaith harmony in Pakistan.

PESHAWAR -- The week long Friendship Football Cup that just concluded at Qayyum Stadium Peshawar on Friday, has highlighted strong bond of interfaith harmony in Pakistan by bringing players of religious seminaries and minority youth on single playground to compete for championship.

For spectators it was also a unique moment to see youngsters of different faiths embracing each others as mark of sportsmen spirit and friendship as well after completion of the matches.

The tournament was jointly organized by Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the objective of portraying real face of Pakistan where people of different religions are living in mutual co-existence and in an environment of friendship and fraternity.

In all a total of six teams participated in the Friendship Football Cup, three from religious seminaries and three from minority youth.

The final played on Friday (June 10) was won by Daral Uloom Taleem ul Quran who defeated Krishna Club Nowshera by 3-0.

The spectators of the final match were also a mix of people from different faiths, reflecting true spirit of harmony and honor by congratulating each others over result of the match.

'It was a unique experience, Friendship Football tournament not only provided us the opportunity to play with students of religious maddaris, but also bring us close to each others, making us friends,' observed Bacha Gul, Captain of Krishna Nowshera representing Hindu community.

Talking to reporter, Bacha Gul said majority of the youth from minority were in the influence of reports portraying students of religious seminaries as extremists, but the opportunity of interaction with them removed all the misconceptions.

Bacha insisted on holding of such tournaments for other games, providing opportunities to more people from both sides to come close and get the opportunity of understanding each others.

'The Football tournament helped in removing the misconception created about students of religious maddaris who are portrayed as religious extremists and intolerant,' remarked Qari Sohail, Captain Darul Uloom Quran team.

Expressing his comments after winning the tournament, Qari Sohail said minority youth were like our brothers and this mentality can...