Behishti Darwaza opened to devotees

Around 800,000 devotees make their way through the door

PAKPATTAN: The 15-day-long celebrations of the 773rd urs of Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar peaked on Wednesday following the opening of the Behishti Darwaza (celestial door).

The shrine’s custodian Maudud Masood Chishti, his son Ahmad Maudud Chishti, Auqaf Minister Mian Atta Muhammad Menaka and Auqaf Secretary Nayyar Iqbal opened the gate’s three locks in the presence of thousands of devotees who were present on the occasion. According to an estimate, nearly 800,000 devotees make their way through the door which is closed early on Muharram 11. Over two million people participate in the annual urs of Ganj Shakar, one of the Indian subcontinent’s most venerated saints.

Sahiwal Commissioner Azmat Mahmood said a foolproof security plan had been devised for the urs. He said CCTV cameras were being used to monitor developments and walkthrough gates had been installed to regulate devotees’ movements.

Mahmood said the shrine’s entry and exit points had been barricaded. He said police and rangers had been placed on high alert to ensure the peaceful passage of the event.

Mahmood said additional policemen had been requisitioned for other districts to complement the efforts of local authorities. He said maintaining peace during the urs and Muharram was the foremost priority of district authorities.

DPO Shahnawaz Sandhila told newsmen that the media should cover such events responsibly. He urged journalists to authenticate claims before reporting them. Sandhila said some news had been broadcast to spread panic among citizens. He said an emergency had been imposed across hospitals following such news but no one had been taken to a medical facility.

DCO Javed Akhtar Mahmood said a control room had been established to deal with any untoward situation. He said it had been set up to disseminate information and register complaints.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 23^rd, 2015.