Ghulam Gardash to become no-go zone

Area of Sufi Saint’s grave to be sealed hours before former PM’s visit


Rana Yasif August 12, 2017
PHOTO: TARIQ HASAN, ABID NAWAZ AND SHAHBAZ MALIK/EXPRESS

LAHORE: Ghulam Gardash, the area where the grave of Data Ganj Baksh Ali Hajveri is situated, welcomes thousands of people on a daily basis so they can pay homage to the Sufi Saint.

However, it will become a no-go area for devotees on the day ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif arrives to pay his respects. Ghulam Gardash is of great significance to devotees and likened by many of them with the heart to a body. The devotees wait in long queues for their turn to touch the grave and lay floral wreath or shawls.

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Visitors hold a strong belief that any wish, asked for on this hallowed ground, will be granted by God. The area is crowded 24 hours a day with followers who travel to the shrine from far-flung areas. The situation is the same whether it is in the women’s portion of the shrine or the men’s section.

A well-placed source has said that the shrine will be sealed to keep devotees out of Ghulam Gardash as their presence could pose a security risk during the visit of the former prime minister. The process to cordon off the area will start a few hours before Nawaz ‘s rally is expected to arrive. He said the former PM will enter through the VVIP gate of Data Darbar. The source confirmed that iron fences will be placed on the way leading to Ghulam Gardash and no devotees would be allowed to enter.

In addition, only specific people will be allowed entry into the Shrine along with the former PM. Subsequently, the gates will be closed and there will be no further admission. Around Ghulam Gardash, security personnel in uniform and civvies will be deployed to monitor the situation.

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The main and Zaildar Road bazaars of Data Darbar will be closed before the arrival of the rally. However, representatives of the market union claimed they would not close shop. Data Darbar Main Bazaar General Secretary Muhammad Shafique told The Express Tribune that traders will not close their shops and that was a message which had been strongly conveyed to police officials.

He added that officials had demanded the closure of shops 30 hours prior to the arrival of the former PM’s rally. A final decision on the matter will be taken on Saturday.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Discipline SSP Tariq Aziz said the shrine will not be closed for devotees. Responding to a query whether Ghulam Gardash will be closed for any movement, he said a decision on the subject would be taken on Saturday (today).

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12th, 2017.

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