Devotees demand reopening of Punjab’s shrines

As govt further eases lockdown restrictions, followers seek SOPs to open shrines in advance of Jumatul Wida

LAHORE: Following the initial rise of Covid-19 cases in the province, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar had ordered the closure of all shrines on March 15, 2020. After this, the chief secretary was directed to ensure the implementation of the CM’s directives and immediately close all shrines in the province for a period of three weeks.

However, two months later as the government has decided to restore business centres and public transport in the wake of provincial coronavirus tally ballooning over 15,000 cases, the Punjab Auqaf Department too has sought SOPs to reopen the closed shrines. On the other hand, many Sunni organisations and madrassas have also demanded the government for the immediate reopening of these shrines while announcing to visit the shrine of Hazrat Data Ali Hajveri in Lahore on Thursday, May 21.

Going by the CM’s orders, all shrines under the administration of the Auqaf Department have remained closed to visitors and devotees for over two months, resulting in a loss of over Rs260 million to Auqaf. In addition to that, all congregational gatherings within mosques too have remained suspended throughout the month of Ramazan and for the same amount of time, as a precautionary measure to curb the spread of the contagious disease. But now that the Punjab government has given its permission to restore various businesses and transport services, devotees too have found enough reasons to press for the reopening of their holy sites.

Sunni organisations demand shrine reopening

Per sources, more than a dozen Sunni organisations have reacted vehemently in opposition of the government’s decision to close the province’s shrines and have been continuously pressing for their reopening. In this regard, President Tehfuz-e-Namoos Risalat Mahaz Raza Mustafa Naqshbandi announced that hundreds of devotees are looking forward to congregating and pay their respects at the shrine of Hazrat Data Ali Hajveri in Lahore on May 21. “If other sects can be granted permission to hold rallies on the occasion of Youm-e-Ali, why are the Sunnis being held from visiting the shrines of their saints?”

Taking note of the situation at hand, Punjab Minister for Auqafs and Religious Affairs Saeedul Hassan Shah has announced the Auqaf’s decision to seek the permission of the Punjab government to reopen the closed shrines. “The Home Department will soon be contacted in the regard. However, the shrines will only reopen upon provision of SOPs by the provincial government, while all sanitisation and precautionary measures are also being considered before granting anyone entry into the shrines,” said Shah. “We will only open the shrine for a specific timeslot to restrict large gatherings throughout the day and are awaiting the government’s directives and SOPs in the regard,” he added.

Plans for Jumatul Wida prayers

In addition to that, Shah also informed The Express Tribune that the government has granted permission to host congregational prayers for Jumatul Wida (the last Friday of Ramazan) and Eidul Fitr. According to Shah, specific security measures will be taken in the regard and the government will ensure that the congregational prayers are held in courtyards and open grounds such as Eid Gahs, instead of within the four walls of the mosques.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2020.