Sialvi gives 7-day deadline to Punjab govt to implement Sharia

• The custodian of Sial Sharif shrine has threatened to lockdown Punjab if his demands are ignored

LAHORE: Spiritual leader and custodian of Sial Sharif shrine Pir Hameedud Din Sialvi on Saturday gave a deadline of seven days to the provincial government to implement the Sharia law in the country and threatened to lockdown every nook and corner of Punjab if it failed to fulfil the demand.

Speaking to thousands of devotees at the Khatm-e-Nabuwat conference outside the shrine of Data Sahib, Sialvi once again urged his devotees not to cast their votes in favour of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the upcoming general elections, saying that the rulers have forgotten the teachings of Islam.

“I wonder why Rana Sanaullah is still so close to our rulers, despite the fact that he has given statements that are against the spirit of Khatm-e-Nabuwat (finality of prophethood),” Sialvi said, while adding that he along with his disciples and devotees was ready to face the ‘goons’ of Rana Sana-the most powerful minister of Punjab. He further urged his devotees to carry on his mission of Khatm-e-Nabuwat and must consider it as his advice and will.

Earlier, the Khatm-e-Nabuwat conference was also addressed by former member of National Assembly (MNA) from Jhang Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, members of provincial assembly (MPAs) Muhammad Khan Baloch, Ghulam Nizamud Din Sialvi, Tehreek-e-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah (TLYR) chief Dr Ashraf Asif Jalali and Sunni Ittehad Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza.

Moreover, several custodians of different shrines of Punjab and religious scholars hailing from the Barelvi sect were also present on the occasion. They also reiterated their support for Pir Sialvi. Ghulam Bibi Bharwana said on the occasion that she had resigned from the assembly which was responsible for trying to make amendments to the Khatm-e-Nabuwat law that favoured the Ahmadi community.

According to an estimate, around 5,000 to 6,000 people were present at the conference held outside Data Darbar. Most of the participants were diehard devotees of Pir Sialvi who came from different cities of Punjab, including Jhang, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Gujrat.

“I am here on the orders of Pir Sial who is my spiritual leader and I can even sacrifice my life for him if he says so,” Muhammad Aslam, a diehard devotee of Hameedud Din Sialvi from Sargodha told Pakistan Today.

It is worth mentioning here that it was the third public gathering of Pir Sial in the last two months as he had earlier addressed mammoth gatherings in Gujranwala and Faisalabad last month to seek the resignation of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah over his remarks that according to Sialvi were against the finality of prophethood concept. Sialvi, a former senator of Muslim League, has thousands of devotees in Punjab, while over a dozen parliamentarians are also associated with his shrine because of Sialvi’s influence over their voters.

Meanwhile, traffic remained suspended from Minar-e-Pakistan interchange to Lower Mall because of the conference of Pir Sialvi and a traffic mess could also be witnessed on the adjacent roads, despite the fact that 305 additional traffic wardens, 56 patrolling officers, 11 inspectors and five traffic deputy superintendents of police were deputed under the supervision of City Traffic Superintendent of Police Asif Siddique.