SAHIWAL: Baba Farid promoted peace and tolerance and abhorred sectarianism. It is time the Muslim world and people of Pakistan understood essence of his poetry and message.

These views were presented by different scholars who came to attend the 13th international Baba Farid Conference at Pakpattan. State Minister Pir Aminul Hasnaat was the guest of honour at the conference.

The event was organised by Baba Faird Educational Trust.

Pir Altaf Hussain Chishti, trust’s general secretary, told the media that the main purpose of [organising the conference] was to spread the message of peace and tolerance to the world.

He said Baba Farid respected people of all religions during his time and he served humanity.

Those who spoke about Farid’s poetry included Dewan Syed Muhammad Chishti, Mian Ahmed Raza Manika, Dr Kilyaan Singh, Dr. Skye Hock, and Sabir Naz.

A number of his devotees and representatives of literary and civil society organisations attended the conference.

At the end, the organisers passed a resolution condemning ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

The organisers urged the state minister to set up an international university named after Baba Farid at Pakpattan.

Bahishtee Darwaza: The 775 annual Urs of Baba Farid Ganjshakar opened here and Sajjada Nasheen Dewan Ahmed Madood Chishti opened the Bahishtee Darwaza on Monday evening.

The Urs will continue till Muharram 10. The Bahishtee Darwaza is the peak event for all devotees who visited the shrine. The door will remain open till Muharram 10 from Isha prayers to Fajr and devotees pass through it.

Tight security measures have been taken for the Urs.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2017