‘Open Bibian Pakdaman shrine round the clock’: LHC

Judge declares closure of shrine illegal, says Article 20 forbids interference in the affairs of worship places.

LAHORE: Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman of the Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered the Auqaf department to keep the shrine of Bibi Pakdaman open round the clock.

The judge, declaring the closure of shrine from sunset to sunrise as illegal, held that the Auqaf department chief administrator had no authority under Article 20 of the constitution to interfere in the affairs of worship places or shrines.

Justice Rehman directed the shrine administration to make foolproof security arrangements for visitors instead of closing it.

The petition had been moved by an organization, Hazrat Ruqayya Bibi Devotees, on behalf of the devotees. The counsel for the petitioner informed the court that the Auqaf administrator had ordered on October 28, 2010 to close the shrine from Maghrib prayers till Fajr, which was unconstitutional.

He said that the devotees had to recite the Holy Quran and offer prayers during the night, arguing that they could not be deprived of their right to do so. A similar restriction imposed on the shrine of Hazrat Ali Hajveri (Data Darbar) had been lifted therefore, the one at the shrine of Bibi Pakdaman should also be revoked, the counsel submitted.

He said that the ban violated the freedom of religion and worship guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan. He told the court had held in another case on June 27, 2009 that worship places could not be locked. The petitioners had prayed the court to declare the closure as unconstitutional and direct that the shrine be opened up for devotees round the clock.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2010.