Festival begins: Shrine caretakers demand road restoration

"We appeal to the government and the SHC to take steps for the restoration of the road," said Faridi

KARACHI:

The caretakers of the Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine demanded on Wednesday the immediate restoration of the road around the shrine to help visitors attend the urs, which is scheduled to start today.

"We appeal to the government and the Sindh High Court to take steps for the restoration of the road," said Pir Ghulam Qutubuddin Faridi, president of the National Mashaikh Council, at Karachi Press Club. "With the area uprooted and the construction work halted, people coming to the shrine are facing problems."

Faridi also announced the programme of the 1,284th urs of Abdullah Shah Ghazi, which is set to commence today (October 16). He said that Sindh governor Ishratul Ebad will inaugurate the ceremony.

He added that a conference will be held earlier in the day on Thursday, where religious scholars and sufi leaders will discuss spiritualism. In the evening, Amjad Sabri will entertain the crowd with his qawwalis. "The need of the hour is to promote Sufism and ensure that there is peace and unity in the country," said Faridi.



Regarding the security arrangements, Sabir Dawood, a member of the mazar's management and advisory committee, said that 36 CCTV cameras had been installed, while a heavy contingent of police and Rangers will also be present. He added that 40 private security guards had been appointed, claiming that adequate steps had been taken to ensure the security of the event.

Dawood said that Rs80 crores are being spent on the upgradation of the shrine, which will boast facilities such as lifts.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2014.