Auqaf antics: Sans court order, caretakers refuse to handover shrine

RAWALPINDI: The district Auqaf department on Thursday failed to take control of a shrine in Gujar Khan’s Kalyam Awan village after caretakers refused to vacate it. The caretakers insisted on being shown a a certified court order, which the Auqaf officials they did not have on hand.

While disposing of a petition on Wednesday, the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench issued an order directing the Auqaf department to take control of the shrine after it emerged that two persons claiming to be caretakers had been fighting with each other.

When Auqaf and Rawalpindi police officials reached the site, a large number of supporters of both caretakers gathered outside the shrine, chanting slogans against the Auqaf department.

After the caretakers asked the Auqaf officials to show them a certified court order, both sides squabbled before the Auqaf officials gave up and left.

“The Auqaf officials agreed to bring a certified court order on June 18 to take over control of the shrine,” said Sadar Circle DSP Salim Khattak, who led the police team.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 17^th, 2016.