PESHAWAR, Oct 6: Representatives of the Shia Bangash community of Kohat, Orakzai and Kurrum Agencies have demanded end to occupation the mausoleum of saint Syed Anwar Shah in Lairay, Kalaya, by their rivals and permission to visit the shrine.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club, Syed Athar Mohammad of Ustarzai, Kohat; Munawar Hussin of Kurrum Agency and Syed Fazal Ali Shah of Orakzai Agency claimed that the Lairay graveyard was a Shia property where 2,000 members of the community were buried. Saint Syed Anwar Shah who died in 1215 Hijra was also buried in the graveyard, they said.

They said the mausoleum of the saint was in a dilapidated condition but the government was ignoring their demand for its renovation.

They complained that when they tried to renovate the mazaar on their own, some people of the rival community laid siege to it and stopped entry of members of their community.

They said several people from both sides had lost their lives in clashes. They said Manikhel and Bramahkhel tribes of Tirah Valley and Bangash of Kohat, Orakzai and Kurrum were followers of the saint.

They said that in January 2001, the local political administration had banned the entry of Shias in the mausoleum and set up a Frontier Corps checkpoint outside the graveyard to resolve the dispute which had claimed several lives.

They said the government must solve the problem to avoid more bloodshed.

TESCO NOTICE: Power supply will remain suspended because of repair work at a grid station in Bannu from 6:30am to 10:30am on Saturday.