The city authorities in their late night operation have razed six shrines to make way for the much-trumpeted Bus Rapid Transit lane being constructed on Ferozepur Road from Gujjumatta to Shahdara. The idea behind carrying out the operation in the middle of the night was to avoid resistance from devotees of these holy men. The razed shrine at Ghazi Chowk were of Pir Kamal Kazmi and Baba Rafique Qadri, outside the Camp Jail were of Baba Qambar Ali Shah and Pir Dashanday Shah, on Lytton Road was of Baba Boharwali Sarkar and on Ravi Road was of Baba Chattri Wali Sarkar. Three more graves on the Ravi Road were also razed. Two graves were with the shrine of Chattri Wali Sarkar while the third one was with a mosque. The authorities claim to have relocated the bodies of these holy men to graveyards close to the shrines. They also claim that they have taken keepers of the shrines on board before the operation. But Amin Baba, caretaker of Pir Qambar Ali Shah’s shrine, belies the claim and says no body was taken into confidence before the operation. He says the authorities have also refused to pay even a single penny to reconstruct shrines on the relocated places. TEPA Chief Engineer Israr Shah says the agency has no other option but to demolish these shrines to materialise the project. He says the authorities did not intend to offend people by demolishing these shrines rather it was essential to make way for the lane. He says that the authorities will not rebuild these shrines at the relocated places. —Text by Sajid Bashir and photos by Tariq Saeed