BADIN: The Luari Sharif shrine — which has remained closed since bloody clashes between two rival groups of devotees 36 years ago — was unsealed on Friday amid stringent security measures.

The shrine of Hazrat Khwaja Mohammad Zaman, better known as Sultanul Aulia, in Luari Sharif town located some 15 kilometres from here, was unsealed and opened to devotees and other visitors by the Auqaf department.

The order to this effect was signed by Auqaf Secretary Munawwar Mahesar, who personally opened the main entrance of the shrine at Friday noon.

The shrine was sealed by the provincial government when two rival groups fought a battle for the custodianship of Sultanul Aulia, one of the most revered religious figures in Sindh. The clashes had left many disciples dead and wounded.

Although the Auqaf department looked after maintenance of the shrine during the period, it sustained heavy damage during the 2011 rains and floods in the province. Due to a tense situation that always prevailed in Luari Sharif town due to the dispute, proper repair and renovation work could not be undertaken despite several attempts made over the last three decades.

On Friday, it was reopened allowing disciples and other visitors to enter the shrine after the local administration ensured peace and harmony in the town. No untoward incident took place at or around the shrine till late in the evening while armed police personnel stood guard outside.

In 2015, the department had made its last attempt to reopen the shrine but the rival groups came face to face and one person lost his life in a firing incident. The shrine was again sealed to avoid a flare-up.

It was announced that women visitors would be allowed to enter the shrine from 7am to 11am and men visitors from 3pm to 7pm daily.

Published in Dawn, January 25th, 2020