BADIN: A group of Pir Luari Sharif disciples tried to storm their way into the Badin Press Club after pelting it with stones on Monday.

They seemed to be angry at office-bearers of the club for entertaining their rival group, whose leaders were about to hold a press conference inside.

The attack continued in the presence of a strong police contingent deployed close to the club, besides around the Luari Sharif shrine and other highly sensitive points within the town.

The police in riot gear poised to intervene but did not stop the unruly group from attacking the club’s building or from fleeing the area later.

The rival groups have been at daggers drawn for more than four decades over custodianship of the shrine. Many people have been killed and injured in chronic violent attacks involving the rival groups during the period.

The shrine has remained sealed since 1984 bloody clashes and provincial government’s several attempts to reopen it for cleaning, renovation and urs celebrations have failed due to the unending tension gripping the entire Luari Sharif town on such occasions.

Journalists condemn attack

Office-bearers of the press club have strongly condemned Monday’s attack on its building and termed it an act of terrorism.

A joint emergency meeting of media personnel belonging to the Badin Press Club and Aiwan-i-Sahafat has announced a district-wide protest on Tuesday and blackout of coverage of all events to be organised by the group that resorted to attacking the press club. The meeting also demanded immediate arrest of the attackers.

The Luari Sharif seat and shrine belongs to revered sufi saint Khwaja Mohammad Zamaan (RA).

Considering possibility of renewed violence, the district administration had already imposed a ban on all sorts of gathering during Haj days, i.e. 7th to 11th of Zilhaj.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2025