BADIN: The shrine of famous Sufi saint Syed Saman Shah Sarkar near Pangrio town, 53 kilometres from here, was closed on Friday for ‘security reasons’ in the wake of the devastating suicide attack on the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar on Thursday, which claimed the lives of more than 80 persons and left hundreds wounded.

Lovingly called Saman Sarkar and Laar Jo Lal by devotees, the saint’s tomb attracts thousands of people daily and their number increases manifold on special days.

Police stopped the devotees, who had brought roosters with them to fulfil their vows and present the birds as offerings, from entering the shrine’s premises.

SHO of Pangrio police station, Aftab Ahmad Rind, told Dawn that he was directed by Badin SSP Abdul Qayyum Pitafi to immediately seal the shrine over ‘security concerns’.

“Security has been tightened in and around the shrine and devotees have been requested not to visit the tomb till [further] orders,” he said.

In November last year, Badin police had not allowed the shrine’s custodian, Syed Ali Bux Shah, to extend annual Urs celebrations of the revered saint beyond three days reportedly over ‘some threats’ to the shrine’s security.

Sources in police said that both the federal and provincial governments had issued directives to ensure foolproof security in and around shrines and other religious places in the wake of recent wave of terrorism in the country.

60 held during ‘combing operation’in Jacobabad

SUKKUR: Heavy contingents of police and Rangers picked up 60 suspects after carrying out a combing operation in different towns, villages and seminaries in Jacobabad on Friday.

SSP Sajid Hussain Khokhar told journalists that the operation was launched in the wake of suicide attack in Sehwan Sharif to pre-empt any security threats and maintain law and order in the city.

He said the suspects, including Naseebullah, Moula Dad, Ghulam Sarwar Domki, Saddam Pathan, Mohammad Hanif, Mohammad Yousuf, Mehrab Domki, Imtiaz Ali, Rafiq Kato, Asmat Pathan, Abdul Waheed Siddiqi, Shah Mohammad Shaikh, Mohammad Ameen, Babar Qureshi, Abu Bakar Qureshi, Adnan Awan, Sardar Karim Awan, Ellahi Bux Brohi and Mohammad Munir, were shifted to undisclosed location for interrogation.

He said that security had been beefed up along the Sindh-Balochistan border area and police were keeping a vigilant eye on the movement of people and vehicles between the two provinces. Police were subjecting every person and vehicle to thorough checking before letting them enter and exit Jacobabad, he said.

He said that patrolling by police and Rangers had been intensified and security of Imambargahs and mosques had been tightened.

Meanwhile, in-charge of ‘15’ Madadgar police, Tariq Tareen, detained five members of the Tableeghi Jamaat identified as Yaseen Brohi, Shah Jahan Brohi, Alam Brohi and Haji Raheem and shifted them to unknown place for interrogation. Police detained them when they were returning from Sehwan to Quetta where they lived.

MQM-P postpones public meeting

HYDERABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan on Thursday night announced cancelling its public meeting titled ‘Muttahida Yakjehti Jalsa Aam’ scheduled for Friday in Pucca Qila ground.

MQM-P Hyderabad spokesperson said that instead of the public meeting Quran Khwani would be held at Pucca Qila ground after Zuhr prayers on Saturday for the victims of recent incidents of terrorism.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2017