DADU, July 18 A conference of religious leaders held here on Saturday and Sunday demanded security at shrines to protect them from terrorists. Organised by Markazi Jamaat Ahl-i-Sunnat at the Sehwan stadium, the conference was attended by hundreds of people.

The Ameer of the Jamaat, Pir of Bharchundi Mian Abdul Khaliq Qadri, said that terrorist attacks and law and order situation had destroyed people's lives and even the shrines of saints were not safe.

He accused some elements of trying to spark sectarian clashes in the country.

He condemned the recent terrorist attack on Data Darbar in Lahore and demanded protection of shrines across the country.

Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan president Sahibzada Abul Khair accused the government of supporting terrorists and not taking effective steps to eradicate terrorism.

He also accused Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif of supporting banned outfits and said his government had reported to have paid Rs12 million to activists of a banned organisation for its so-called social work. He said that terrorists were using the money for their illegal activities.

Mian Abdul Baqi of Humayoon, Syed Ghulam Hussain Shah of Qambar, Mufti Mohammad Jan Naeemi and a number of the scholars spoke at the conference. Minister of Religious Affairs of Azad Kashmir, Sahibzada Pir Ateeq-ur-Rehman also attended the conference.

Our Hyderabad staff correspondent adds DPO Hyderabad Javed Alam Odho has said that the district police have declared five shrines and religious places in the city as important from security point of view and put them on 'A' list.

He said there was no specific threat to any of the places, but general instructions have been issued in the wake of Data Darbar terrorist attacks to tighten security.

He said at a press conference here on Sunday that the five places included

Qadam Gah Maula Ali and the adjacent shrine of Sakhi Abdul Wahab Shah Jeelani and Shah Makki shrine frequented by a large number of people.

He said that the management of Qadam Gah Maula Ali had installed surveillance gates at entry points.

But, he said, caretakers of Wahab Shah Jeelani's shrine have not taken such measures. “We can't provide surveillance gates and scanners,” the DPO said. “They have to arrange them on their own”, he said.

He said that police had banned entry of vehicles in these areas. The vehicles that brought scrap for shops around the Qadam Gah are required to leave the area soon after completing their work.

He said that the shrines visited by large numbers of people only on the occasion of Urs had been placed 'B' and 'C' categories.

“There is no specific terrorist threat right now”, he said.