CHAKWAL, Oct 31: The Talagang administration has for the first time in the last 37 years cancelled the annual Urs of Pir Fazal Shah, citing security reasons.

However, sources said as its custodian Sufi Mohammad Ishaq was awarded death sentence in a blasphemy case, the step has been taken to avoid tension running high.

Ishaq has been in death cell of Adiala jail  for the last nine months.

The organisers of the shrine had made extensive arrangements for the Urs but were left shocked when they received the news.

Sufi Mohammad Ishaq was sentenced to death on January 29 by an additional sessions judge of Jhelum.

Due to his conviction people of the area warned police against holding of the 37th Urs of Pir Fazal Shah on 13th and 14th of Zilhaj.

“In response to our letter, the Regional Police Officer assured to provide security for the Urs, but suddenly SHO of the City police, Mohammad Asghar asked us to cancel the annual event”, Mohammad Javed one of the organisers told Dawn.

“We are peaceful people and the message of our Pir is also peace that’s why we have not violated the order of the police”, he maintained.

When contacted SHO Mohammad Asghar said that since Sufi Ishaq was sentenced to death the outrage in the public against him has shot up, “so we cancelled the Urs”.