KARACHI: Representatives of the Sheedi community on Monday sought government assistance in the revival of their centuries-old cultural activities hit by deteriorating security situation over the past few years.

“It’s so unfortunate that we have been unable to organise the Sheedi Mela for past four years at Hazrat Sakhi Sultan Baba’s shrine in Manghopir due to the security situation. We badly need government support for the revival of this key cultural event of the city,” said All Pakistan Sheedi Ittehad president Agha Mohammad Qambrani while addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club.

He said the community was making efforts for the revival of the Sheedi Mela but government support was crucial in this regard or else the prevailing situation would eliminate the cultural history of the city, leaving space for intolerance and extremism.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2014