KARACHI: The 53rd spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, who had arrived in Karachi last week for the chehlum of Imam Hussain and was expected to leave within a week, has now extended his stay here by a few more days and is expected to leave by the middle of next week now.

On Saturday, he also met with Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui among other government dignitaries and politicians.

A spokesman for the Bohra community said that strict protocols and standard operating procedures due to the Covid-19 pandemic have resulted in the slowing down of Syedna’s community activities.

The 75-year-old spiritual leader is doing very well otherwise. Only senior community members who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and tested again within the last 24 hours are allowed to enter the green zone created for him.

Dr Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin had arrived in Karachi on Sept 25 through a direct Pakistan International Airlines chartered flight from Nairobi. He was received here at the airport by Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah among other dignitaries. The community leader is staying in Karachi as a special guest of the state and is being extended VVIP protocol.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2021