Fearless devotees throng to Qalandar’s shrine in thousands

This will be first annual gathering after February’s suicide attack that claimed over 90 lives

KARACHI: Over 90 lives were lost when a deadly bombing shook Sehwan in February this year. That, however, did not deter the fearless devotees of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar from thronging to the shrine in thousands to participate in the urs celebrations.

The 765^th urs of Qalandar, which will begin tomorrow [Monday] and continue till Wednesday, will be the first annual gathering after February’s suicide attack. Greater participation is expected this year given the fervour with which devotees are thronging to the shrine.



Restaurants, shops and buildings have been decorated with colourful buntings and a number of temporary camps have been set up on the highway and around Sehwan for people to spend their time.

According to Zulfiqar Solangi, a local journalist, people are swarming to Sehwan. He said public transport is brimming to its full and 70 per cent passengers travelling in buses, coaches and trains are offloaded at Sehwan, adding that people reached two days before the urs on Monday. “We have not seen such passionate Sufi ritual of dhamal after the attack,” he said. “People are unafraid and are sitting in front of the shrine in hot and humid weather. We fail to understand whether its devotion, love or something else.”



Meanwhile, extraordinary security measures have been ensured. A large number of Rangers and police officials with sniffer dogs have been deployed. There were rumours that four bombers have reached Sehwan to carry out another blast but government officials have yet to confirm this news.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Auqaf Ghulam Shah Jilani, who deals with the affairs of shrines in the province, said that Sehwan city has been divided into seven to eight different zones and each zone will be looked after a senior police official not below the rank of ASP. “Around 4,500 police and 500 Rangers personnel will be deployed for security purpose,” he said, adding that the governor will inaugurate the urs and the chief minister will conclude it. “I have personally visited the shrine on Friday and reviewed the arrangements. This is the land of Sufis where people have rejected extremist elements.” He added that after the blast, people resumed dhamal, showing their reverence towards Qalandar.



Shah said that walkthrough gates and closed-circuit television [CCTV] cameras have been set up with a modern control room where everyone in the premises of the shrine can be watched.

When asked about reports of severe potable water crises in Sehwan, officials said that they have made all the arrangements. “The organising committee headed by the deputy commissioner concerned briefed me about the arrangements to facilitate devotees,” Shah said, adding that the government has established cold drinking water points and medical camps.



During the urs, other activities, including traditional Sindhi wrestling, malakhra, a musical programme and cattle shows will also be arranged.

The family that lost eight members

The horrors of the deadly bombing reverberated all the way till Kamber-Shahdadkot district, where the Khokhar family lost eight of its members, most of them minors. Despite losing family members, they remain undeterred and have decided to go to Sehwan again. “We are on our way,” said Mohammad Mohib Khokhar. “We have again hired a bus and more than two dozen people are with us. Not only we will participate but will set up sabeels as well to quench the thirst of people in the scorching heat.”