June 3, 2002	Monday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 21,1423

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ISLAMABAD, June 2: Large number of people thronged Bari Imam shrine on the first day of the Urs which began here at Noorpur Shahan village on Sunday.

Some 500 rallies comprising 50 people each reached the shrine from various parts of the country. Most of the devotees travelled on foot.

According to a rough estimate, some 200,000 people visited the shrine on the first day of the Urs which will continue till June 6.

People were seen eating rice and bread that was being distributed at the Langar Khana.

The Bari Imam Urs has become one of the main events of the capital as thousands of devotees from all over the country take part in it every year.

The shrine was flooded with numerous Malangs. A Malang Mumtaz Shah, 70, alias Ghazi Baba of Karachi, was the centre of the visitors’ attention.

He was sitting in a corner with heavy iron chains around him. Ghazi Baba told Dawn that he visited the shrine every year to attend the Urs.

“Not only do I attend the Urs of Bari Imam, but almost all Urs that take place in the country because it is my duty to pay homage to the saints,” he said.

A number of free medical camps had been set up within the premises of the shrine to provide first aid treatment, if required.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has made arrangements of a water tanker to provide drinking water to the devotees.