Masons raising the walls of the shrine of Hazra Abdullah Shah Ghazi (RA) on Friday due to security concerns before the starting of 1280th Urs celebrations of the Sufi saint. Full security measures were taken to prevent the shrine from any untoward incident after the 7 October 2010 twin blast in which 12 people lost their lives and 70 were injured. – Online Photo

KARACHI: While preparations are under way to facilitate several thousand pilgrims and visitors to the Abdullah Shah Ghazi mausoleum at Clifton on Saturday to participate in the celebrations to mark his 1280th Urs, elaborate security arrangements have been made to ward off a terrorist attack.

The mausoleum was targeted by a suicide bomber on Oct 7 leaving scores of people dead and injured. Since then, all roads leading to the shrine have been heavily guarded by law-enforcement agencies personnel and visitors of the shrine are made to pass through stringent security checks.

Police, as well as intelligence agencies, have been keeping an eye on suspicious elements around the shrine and a strong contingent of security personnel has been deployed at all accesses to the mausoleum.

Security was beefed up following a bomb and gun attack on the CID offices near the Clifton bridge.

Meanwhile, Sindh Minister for Auqaf Abdul Haseeb has announced that that the three-day Urs will be inaugurated by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, APP adds.

“Strict security measures are being taken for the Urs,” he said, adding that 18 security devices, including cameras, walkthrough gates and CCTV, had been installed in the vicinity of the mausoleum.

Rangers, police and private security guards, had also been detailed to ensure peaceful holding of the Urs, he said.