SAHIWAL: The ban on Qawwali and Dhamal at Baba Farid Ganjshakar shrine in Pakpattan has been lifted after four months.

The Home Department had slapped ban on the two activities at the shrine after the suicide blast at Lal Shahbaz Qalander’s shrine in February which left 75 devotees dead.

It is learnt that 16 of the 40 local ‘Qawwal groups’ have been allowed to resume recitals from today (Thursday). Ahmed Masood Chishti, the shrine caretaker, has played a vital role in convincing the Home Department and law-enforcement agencies of the need for peaceful activities at the shrine.

A source told Dawn that Qawwali would be resuming today.

“The ban on the qawwali created financial difficulties for us,” Mehboob Akram said.

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2017