‘Sufi teachings can rid country of terrorism’
Devotees have been accommodated in 14 schools and three colleges
Devotees stand in a queue waiting for their turn to enter the shrine. PHOTO: ONLINE
MULTAN:
We can curb the rising extremism in society by promoting the teachings of Sufi saints, said Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday.
He was addressing the devotees after inaugurating the 778th urs of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya in Multan. Qureshi, who is the successor of the saint, bathed the shrine with rose water to start the urs celebrations. He then presided over a National Zakariya Conference. Caretaker Bhera Sharif and others were also present.
He said that the followers of the saints could not be threatened by the terrorists. He asked the devotees to be courageous and attend the celebrations.
Sufi practices in a contemporary perspective
Qureshi maintained, “Shrines of holy saints are the centres of religious as well as moral learning.” Every year hundreds of devotees come here to seek spiritual peace and tranquility, he remarked.
On the occasion, Shah Mahmood Qureshi prayed for the peace and prosperity of the country.
While speaking to The Express Tribune, a spokesperson for the Auqaf department said that all arrangements to accommodate the devotees were complete. He said devotees started arriving in Multan in large numbers.
He added separate arrangements were made by the department for families and for the purpose, 14 schools and three colleges had been vacated for the accommodation of the devotees.
The official said that generators had been acquired while 200KV transformer was installed to provide uninterrupted electricity supply during the three-day urs.
He said the department would also provide free meals to the devotees.
Meanwhile, Multan Deputy Commissioner Nadir Chattha told The Express Tribune that strict security measures were taken for the security of the devotees.
He said that heavy contingents of police were deployed at Fort Qasim and its surroundings. He said that more than 30 closed circuit cameras were installed to monitor the security situation both inside and outside the shrine during the urs celebrations.
The deputy commissioner pointed out that a control room had also been established at zonal office to monitor the security situation. He said that civil defence and bomb disposal squad staff had been deployed at the shrine to deal with any untoward incident.
He said that walk-through gates were also installed at the entrance of shrine for security purposes.
In addition, Nadir Chattha said special passes had been issued to all individuals concerned, including district administration officials, Auqaf department employees, policemen and journalists. Besides, all roads leading to the shrine had been cordoned off while metal detectors had been set up at all entry and exit points.
International conference: Defeating extremist mindset through Sufism
He elaborated that solid waste management company removed garbage and trash from the adjoining areas of Fort Qasim while the cleanliness staff would remain on duty in various shifts all day and their holidays had been cancelled.
Camps of civil defense, rescue 1122, health and information for the pilgrims had been established near the mausoleum to provide maximum comfort to the pilgrims on the special instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Bahauddin Zakariya
Bahauddin Zakariya was born in 566 AH at Kahroor Lal Aisan in Layyah district of the Punjab. He travelled to Baghdad for religious education and then settled in Multan and started preaching the religion on the directive of his teacher Hazrat Shaikh Shahabud Din Suharwardy.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2017.
We can curb the rising extremism in society by promoting the teachings of Sufi saints, said Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday.
He was addressing the devotees after inaugurating the 778th urs of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya in Multan. Qureshi, who is the successor of the saint, bathed the shrine with rose water to start the urs celebrations. He then presided over a National Zakariya Conference. Caretaker Bhera Sharif and others were also present.
He said that the followers of the saints could not be threatened by the terrorists. He asked the devotees to be courageous and attend the celebrations.
Sufi practices in a contemporary perspective
Qureshi maintained, “Shrines of holy saints are the centres of religious as well as moral learning.” Every year hundreds of devotees come here to seek spiritual peace and tranquility, he remarked.
On the occasion, Shah Mahmood Qureshi prayed for the peace and prosperity of the country.
While speaking to The Express Tribune, a spokesperson for the Auqaf department said that all arrangements to accommodate the devotees were complete. He said devotees started arriving in Multan in large numbers.
He added separate arrangements were made by the department for families and for the purpose, 14 schools and three colleges had been vacated for the accommodation of the devotees.
The official said that generators had been acquired while 200KV transformer was installed to provide uninterrupted electricity supply during the three-day urs.
He said the department would also provide free meals to the devotees.
Meanwhile, Multan Deputy Commissioner Nadir Chattha told The Express Tribune that strict security measures were taken for the security of the devotees.
He said that heavy contingents of police were deployed at Fort Qasim and its surroundings. He said that more than 30 closed circuit cameras were installed to monitor the security situation both inside and outside the shrine during the urs celebrations.
The deputy commissioner pointed out that a control room had also been established at zonal office to monitor the security situation. He said that civil defence and bomb disposal squad staff had been deployed at the shrine to deal with any untoward incident.
He said that walk-through gates were also installed at the entrance of shrine for security purposes.
In addition, Nadir Chattha said special passes had been issued to all individuals concerned, including district administration officials, Auqaf department employees, policemen and journalists. Besides, all roads leading to the shrine had been cordoned off while metal detectors had been set up at all entry and exit points.
International conference: Defeating extremist mindset through Sufism
He elaborated that solid waste management company removed garbage and trash from the adjoining areas of Fort Qasim while the cleanliness staff would remain on duty in various shifts all day and their holidays had been cancelled.
Camps of civil defense, rescue 1122, health and information for the pilgrims had been established near the mausoleum to provide maximum comfort to the pilgrims on the special instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Bahauddin Zakariya
Bahauddin Zakariya was born in 566 AH at Kahroor Lal Aisan in Layyah district of the Punjab. He travelled to Baghdad for religious education and then settled in Multan and started preaching the religion on the directive of his teacher Hazrat Shaikh Shahabud Din Suharwardy.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2017.