Security concerns: After a five-year hiatus, Bari Imam’s urs may be held this year

The shrine’s admin is still waiting for a response from the bureaucracy.

ISLAMABAD:

For five years, devotees of Bari Imam knocked at every door to get permission for commemorating the annual urs (death anniversary) of the Sufi saint, which was discontinued for security reasons in 2008.

Applications sent to the president, premier and the chief commissioner have yielded little result and followers are now exploring social media to get attention for an issue they feel has not been covered adequately by the mainstream media.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Saadat Hussain Shah, who has filed several complaints and maintains a file of the letters written to the government said there was silence on the issue. “This year, the Bari Imam administration wrote to President Zardari, who asked Senate Chairman Nayyar Hussain Bukhari to handle the situation”. Bukhari came to Bari Imam and announced that the urs which had been banned since 2008 due to security concerns would be held this year, he added. This rekindled the Bari Imam administration’s hopes.

“We were ready to welcome devotees for the urs, but even after several applications, the Islamabad Capital Territory administration is silent about the ceremony.” Another follower, Amjad Hussain said the administration cites security concerns as a reason to ban the ceremony, but there are two other ways for people to access the shrine.

Because of its proximity to the President House and the Diplomatic Enclave, the shrine of Bari Imam at Nurpur Shahan which is of great significance for followers, is considered an easy target for extremists. After a gathering at the shrine was targeted by a bomber during the urs in 2005, security has been doubled. Walk-through gates have been installed and visitors are now screened before entering the shrine.

But when contacted, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Amir Ali Ahmed said, “Security has always been a concern. This should not be a reason to cancel the urs.”  He confirmed the urs would take place this year. We have to discuss the dates with the Bari Imam committee, he added.

The other issue of great concern is the reconstruction of the Bari Imam complex. Initiated in 2008 by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Rs600 million project for remodelling the shrine is yet to be completed. Ahmed said that the annual urs would also help generate revenue for the shrine’s reconstruction as the Auqaaf Department was running out of funds.

“Even phase I has not been completed,” said Hussain, referring to the project. According to him, CDA had stated that the shrine would be renovated by 2010, but progress is so slow that it’s bothersome for not just the administration but also for visitors.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th, 2013.