Lal Shahbaz Qalandar's 375th urs: 5,700 law enforcers to provide security in Sehwan

Officials planning to increase safety measures in the city

HYDERABAD: With the February 16 tragedy in Sehwan still etched on people's memories, authorities are planning security measures for the flood of devotees who will flock to the town next week. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit Sehwan during three days of the 765th urs celebrations of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, which will start from May 18.

A terrorist successfully carried out a suicide attack at Qalandar's shrine on February 16, killing over 90 people and injuring 250. On Monday, officials of Auqaf, district administration and police held a meeting in Sehwan to prepare a security plan for the urs.

The meeting's participants decided a manifold increase in the deployment of security personnel was in order, with some 4,500 policemen, 300 Rangers soldiers, 500 special branch officers and 400 traffic personnel to be put on duty. The small town, located along the Kirthar Mountain range, will be monitored with the help of 200 closed-circuit television cameras, with 100 inside and outside the shrine, and four drone cameras.



During the urs, thousands of private homes in the town are offered on rent to devotees who come from all parts of Pakistan to stay for three days. The meeting decided the Sindh Information of Temporary Residents Act, 2015 will be enforced strictly, warning that landlords who failed to submit details of their tenants to the police will be booked.

Ambulances and fire tenders from five districts will be stationed in Sehwan. Besides the sizzling heat, deaths during the urs are also caused by swimming in the Danister and Aral canals. Although a ban is imposed every year against swimming, lax enforcement allows visitors to the beat the heat in the waterways.

Officials said in order to ensure compliance, the police will arrest any person violating the ban and will place them in the lock-up.

Jamshoro Deputy Commissioner Munawar Ali Mahesar informed the meeting that in view of the heatwave, as many as 100 stalls providing free cold water will be set up. The government will procure 400,000 bottles of mineral water for free distribution among the devotees.



The officials also requested the National Highway Authority to regulate traffic on the Indus Highway's 136-kilometre stretch between Jamshoro and Sehwan where accidents frequently occur due to the curvy single road. Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister for Auqaf Syed Ghulam Hussain Shah Jeelani, Auqaf Secretary Riaz Soomro and other officers attended the meeting.