The Lahore High Court (LHC) issued notices on Wednesday to Punjab Auqaf administrator, Auqaf secretary and Pakpattan district police officer on a petition questioning the closure of the main gate of the shrine of Hazrat Baba Farid Ganj Shakar (RA). LHC Acting Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed was hearing the petition filed by Zaheerul Hassan Zahoor.
The petitioner said the respondents had closed down the 700-year-old main gate to the shrine of the 12th century Sufi saint on July 1, 2010 after a suicide attack on the shrine. The petitioner said the closure of the gate was creating problems for devotees and local shopkeepers. He said the alternative entrance required a devotee to ascend over 80 steps to get inside the shrine.
The petitioner asked the court to order reopening of the gate, adding that the big crowds at the alternative entry point could be vulnerable to any act of terrorism. The court then issued notice to the respondents for September 16.