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Sanctuaries no more

Shrines in Lahore, including Data Darbar and Bibi Pak Daman, have been barricaded and visitors' movement restricted like never before
By Aoun Sahi

On any normal day, a visitor is likely to come across beggars, devotees, pilgrims, addicts, pickpockets and mystics, not necessarily in the same order, at Data Darbar. A place that always appears full of activity and colour is almost quiet and empty now.
The police have barricaded this shrine along with other famous shrines such as Bibi Pak Daman and Mian Mir amid rumours that they will be targets of "female suicide bombers".
Thirteen out of fifteen gates of Data Darbar have been closed. Hundreds of beggars and addicts, who used to live inside the four walls of the shrine, have been pushed away. Police now search all visitors twice, push them through a narrow path and urge them to leave after a few minutes. Even the Qawwals who perform every Thursday are not allowed to get in.
For security reasons, police have also blocked the two roads on both sides of Data Darbar – that lead to Bilal Gunj. The road to Bibi Pak Daman shrine has also been closed to traffic.

This has not only caused a lot of problems for visitors but also to people who live or do their business in the surrounding areas. "It took me 45 minutes to get into the shrine after passing through different security checks. I was searched twice by police and private security guards of the Darbar but they forced me to leave the shrine in 15 minutes," an angry Ajmal Hussain, 35, tells TNS. He was angrier at those who have threatened to hit the shrines.
"They want to hit because they know these places are sources of sectarian harmony and peace. These sufi saints spread Islam through their inclusive character while the terrorists believe in using brutal force." Hussain confirms the number of visitors has dropped drastically in these shrines after the threat.
The surrounding alleys and streets of Data Darbar are centres of a wide range of businesses. People here are going through a hard time since the death of Dr Sarfraz Naeemi. "Everyone is scared of suicide bombings," says Mohammed Shakil, 37, who sells sweets and trinkets near the Data Darbar for the last 20 years.
"Followers of every sect and all faiths come here. Nothing like this has ever happened before. It is for the first time that people are afraid to even to come to Data Darbar. This has caused huge damage to my business. Sometimes, I cannot find a customer the whole day," says Shakil.
"The number of visitors to Data Darbar has dropped at least by 60 percent," says one of the shoekeepers outside the Darbar. According to him, majority of the visitors

these days come from outside the city "because they do not know there is a threat to Data Darbar and other shrines in Lahore."
"Data Darbar is the lifeline of Lahore; it is not only a shrine but also a centre of cultural activities for Lahories," says renowned scholar Kazi Javed.
"Those who have given threats basically think that visiting shrines is a Hindu custom and there is no place for such activity in Islam," he says.
"I still remember that Shah Hussain's Urs used to be spread over a three kilometre radius but now one cannot find even hundreds of people on his Urs. The same has been happening to other shrines. But it is not that drastic and that hurts the extremists that is why they want to hit these shrines." Javed thinks that these extremists want to impose their version of 'pure Islam' on the whole society. "They want to break people's connection with these shrines because these are the symbol of peace and tolerance."
Visitors at Bibi Pak Daman seem unhappy with the situation but blame the terrorists. "There is no other option available with the police," says Farukh Majeed Bhatti, secretary general Shia-Sunni Peace Committee, Bibi Pak Daman. "Yesterday, after two weeks, police had allowed people to arrange Milad or Majlis at the shrine for three hours. People are still coming in good number but nobody is allowed to stay for more than 30 minutes in the premises. Nobody is allowed to meditate for days which used to be a regular feature of the shrine."
Both shrines are situated in congested areas. Thus people in surrounding localities are feeling scared. "We are not letting our children to go near the shrine for security reasons," says Muhammad Sajjad, a resident of Muhammad Nagar, a locality near Bibi Pak Daman. Terrorists have been forcing people to change their lifestyle, he says.