Devotees have complained about poor security arrangements on the first day of 254th annual urs celebrations of Sufi poet Baba Bulleh Shah.
They said though police officials were present at the shrine but no walk through gates or metal detectors had been installed to prevent possible terrorism attacks.
A large number of people thronged the shrine’s complex on the first day of the urs. Talking to The Express Tribune they complained that none of the entrances to the shrine had a walk through gate.
Police deployed at the shrine said metal detectors were found to be faulty. They, however, said they were keeping an eye on the surroundings and would take immediate action if any suspicious person or activity were observed.
Besides police, officials of Health and Civil Defence departments were also present at the shrine to deal with emergencies.
Earlier, the three-day ceremony was formally inaugurated by provincial minister for Auqaf and Religious Affairs, Haji Ehsanuddin Qureshi. He laid a ceremonial cloak over the poet’s grave.
Auqaf Department has allocated Rs265,000 for the urs. Free food (lunger) will be served to visitors to the shrine.
Sermons by scholars from different schools of thought, seminars and qawalis would be the main attractions of the urs ceremony.
Kasur district administration has announced a public holiday today (Thursday) so that people may attend the urs.
Provincial Minister for Auqaf andReligious Affairs Haji Ehsanuddin Qureshi Thursday inauguratedthe 254th annual Urs celebrations of Baba Bulleh Shahby lying traditional ‘chadar’ on his shrine in Kasur.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 9th, 2011.
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