25 main shrines of the city closed to visitors
Sealing of shrines disappoints many devotees
Homeless people and stall owners quarrel with security officials
KARACHI:
Following the twin blasts, security authorities have sealed all the major 25 shrines in the city, leaving over 30,000 homeless people stranded and many visitors disgruntled and frustrated.
Sindh is known for being the land of Sufis. There are hundreds of shrines of Sufi saints throughout the province and thousands visit them daily seeking spiritual gratification. In Karachi alone, there are more than 50 shrines. Besides the city’s patron saint Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi (RA), some other important saints whose shrines are in the city include Haji Pir Ghaib Shah, Sakhi Sultan, Bachal Shah Mastan Shah, Baba Chuttan Shah, Ahmed Shah Bukhari, Jalal Shah, Mohammad Shah Bukhari Chuttan Shah, Bibi Miran Pir, Jamal Shah, Mohammad Shah Dola, Kutub Alam Shah, Syed Ali Sarmat, Sheikh Sultan Shah, Noor Ali Shah (Shaheed), Jumman Shah, Zinda Shah Madar, Mehmood Shah Bukhari, Noori Shah Ghazi Achi Kabar, Syed Ali Miran Datar, and Yousuf Shah Bukhari. They are located in different areas of the city such as MA Jinnah Road, Clifton, Kharadar, Mithadar, Lee Market, Azizabad, Bheempura, Light House, Garden, Teen Hati, Korangi, Lyari, Keamari, Bumbai Bazaar and Chanesar Goth.
Thirty-year-old housewife Rashida after remaining childless for 8 years had vowed that she would visit the shrine of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi (RA) seven times if her wish to give birth to a boy was granted. Two months ago, she gave birth to a son and started paying homage to the shrine. Her seventh and last visit was supposed to be on Friday, but strict security measures did not allow her to do that. Even the small mosque adjacent to the shrine was not allowed to hold the Friday prayers.
“This is the first time in the mosque’s history that Friday prayers were not held,” the imam of the mosque told Pakistan Today.
Besides the visitors, the homeless people and street children, who are provided free food as charity at the shrines, are left in the lurch. According to a recent study, around 30,000 street children in Karachi, depend on the free food distributed at the shrines.
The shrines also provide shelter to many homeless people as well as food.
“I live at the footpath outside the shrine of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi (RA) with my daughter and three children, but last night we ran away and now the security personnel are not allowing us to go back,” said Ghulam Muhammad.
Stall owners, who sell flowers, food and other items in the vicinity of the shrines, are also perturbed by the security step.
