Devotees upset over Bari Imam Shrine renovation

ISLAMABAD: Devotees of Bari Imam are not pleased with the Rs750 million renovation project of the shrine. Under the project, the hill spot of Loi Dandi, which is famous for being a spiritual retreat of the saint, will also be revamped.

Locals of the area and followers of the famous saint expressed their discontent over tampering of the site, which began CDA in 2008 by the Capital Development Authority under the chairmanship of former chairman Kamran Lashari.

A list of this disputed tampering includes demolition of a 15-year old langar khana (where free food was distributed), washing off of hand painted flowers at the langar khana and removal of a pigeon cage situated on top of the free food area.

“There is a difference between preserving heritage and demolishing it,” said Hafeez, a local.

Moreover, some important spots on the way to Loi Dandi will also be affected by this project, most important of which is a path to the cave where Bari Imam meditated. Previously, people use to trek from the bottom to reach the cave through a natural track which was also used by locals.  This will now be replaced by a concrete path followed by a steep staircase. “Even a healthy person will get tired after climbing these stairs,” said another local.

“Due to the construction of stairs, donkeys and mules would no longer be able to carry water to the top,” said Fauzia Minallah, who visited the site in 2006 to do research for her book titled “Glimpses into Islamabad’s soul”.

Meanwhile, the cave where Bari Imam used to meditate in 1700s is protected under the Antiquities Act and no alteration or addition can be made to the site. The followers demanded similar treatment for other important places nearby. “They should not tamper with the places where Pari Pathar (fairy stone) and Lion’s Mouth (another cave) are located,” said Sami, who visits the shrine regularly. “No construction should be allowed near these places,” he said.

Furthermore, the practice of using whitewash at the site, which is a popular ritual and is considered as a way of contributing to the place, will also be abandoned.

Fauzia Minallah,  said construction of the concrete structure called ‘Mehmaan Khana’ (guest house) was unnecessary for the area. “It blocks the view of Islamabad and is not in tandem with local architecture. They should have constructed a simple structure with arches, it does not compliment the lay out of the mosque,” she said.

An official, on the condition of anonymity, agreed to some flaws in the project. “The new staircase which has replaced the track has made accessing the cave more cumbersome. Some changes are not being recieved with an open heart,” he said.

Spokesperson of CDA Ramzan Sajid declined the notion of locals being displeased with the new project. “90 per cent of the work has been completed. After completion, the shrine will have new electricity and water connections, new pathways and roads and a bigger complex. The outlook will be improved,” he said.

However, Fauzia disagreed with the idea of imposing renovation plans on such important sites. “Every place has a cultural identity of its own and a site carrying spiritual importance should not be renovated or demolished without considering the feelings of the locals. But, the developers always think they know the best and the locals have to adjust to the new changes,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 27^th, 2010.