National Masshaikh Convention: Caretakers of shrines take matters into their own hands

Gaddi nasheen from all over the country gather to discuss security threat.

MULTAN:

A national masshaikh convention bringing together 85 gaddi nasheen’s of sufi shrines from all over Pakistan was convened on Monday.

Condemning the attacks on shrines throughout the country, former foreign affairs minister Shah Mehmmod Qureshi said “The government needs to take immediate notice of recent information unearthed during the investigation of the Sakhi Sawrar blast in DG Khan.” He said that the authorities needed to act on alleged bomber Omar Fidayi’s testimony and launch a crackdown on terrorist networks.

The masshaikh saints gathered to discuss the security threat to shrines all over the country and the need for increased protection at the sites. “We cannot stand by and keep letting this happen. Devotees cannot simply stop going to shrines and the government needs to ensure maximum security,” said Sakhi Sarwar caretaker Khalid Zafarullah.

The convention is the first of its kind and the gaddi nasheen spoke at length about security measures required at various shrines under their care.

“After last year’s blasts we increased security considerably but people are still afraid,” said Data Darbar caretaker Syed Haider Shah.

“I am glad we have been able to convene here to discuss the situation. We need to protect the places of worship under our care and pressure needs to be put on the government in this regard,” Qureshi said.

Religious scholars and Auqaf department officials also attended the convention and spoke about the contributions of various saints and the importance of protecting Pakistan’s sufi heritage. “We need to think beyond our own factions and unite against the terrorists.

That is why it is so important for caretakers of different shrines to speak to each other and try to resolve our problems together,” Qureshi said.

The participants said that there was no need to comprise and negotiate with terrorist groups who have been challenging the writ of the government in the country. The successors impressed the urgency for all factions to unite against the deobandi agenda.

“We need a formal policy among the major descendants of the saints to promote the unity, peace and interfaith harmony,” he said.

Condemning the attacks on the shrines, the masshaikh said that the government had failed in its quest to eradicate fanaticism and terrorism. Qureshi said that 10 committees that had been set up to safeguard the ideology of the saints and shrines in the Pakistan were not performing their duties.

The participants planned on sending immediate recommendations to the government with regards to the security situation.

“The government needs to protect the shrines not ask us to close them for visitors and pilgrims,” Qureshi said.

The participants demanded that a Sufi research centre be constituted. “These attacks are a sign that the moderate and liberal elements of society are being pushed back,” he said.

A second meeting of the convention has been planned in the June and consecutive meetings will be hosted by the gaddi nasheen of different shrines in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th, 2011.