36 shrines declared sensitive in City

KARACHI - As many as 36 shrines situated in Karachi have been declared sensitive by the Sindh Auqaf Department due to present threat of terrorism, The Nation learnt here on Sunday.
The administration of the Auqaf Department chalked out a strategy ahead of the possibility of terrorism after frequent threats by anonymous terrorists groups.
The said department have also provide the lists of shrines to the law enforcement agencies and asked to make foolproof security arrangements of shrines under the administration of Auqaf Department.
There were some 80 shrines presently under the administration of Auqaf Department across the province in which some 36 are situated in Karachi, source privy to the matter disclosed.
Sensitive shrines were including Abdullah Shah Ghazi, Haji Pir Ghaib Shah, Mohammad Shah Dola, Kutub Alam Shah, Syed Ali Sarmat, Sheikh Sultan Shah, Noor Ali Shah (Shaheed), Jumman Shah, Zinda Shah Madar, Sakhi Sultan, Bachal Shah Mastan Shah, Chuttan Shah, Bibi Miran Pir, Jamal Shah, Mehmood Shah Bukhari, Noori Shah Ghazi Achi Kabar, Syed Ali Miran Datar, Baba Chuttan Shah, Ahmed Shah Bukhari, Jalal Shah, Mohammad Shah Bukhari, Yousuf Shah Bukhari.
These shrines are located in various parts of the City including Clifton, Kharadar, MA Jinnah Road, Light House, Garden, Teen Hatti, Korangi, Lyari, Lee Market, Azizabad, Beem Pura, Bumbai Bazaar, Chanesar Goth and others where number of devotees throng to pay homage to the saints especially on the busiest days like Thursday and Sunday and also on the occasion of ‘Urs’ and ‘No-Chandi Jumm-e-Raat’.
It should be noted here that the police, following a threat of a suicide bombing, had sealed the shrine of Abdullah Shah Ghazi on Thursday and devotees were stopped from visiting, which is still closed for the devotees.
“The security arrangements for Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine are being made by the law enforcers and the installation of walk-through gates would be finalised after the meeting on Monday (today) and then the shrine would be opened for the devotees on Tuesday,” the provincial minister said.