The Sargodha attack

A tragic incident occurred on April 2, 2017 in Sargodha, where the custodian of a Sufi shrine was tortured to death by men carrying batons and knives. This is an inhumane and cruel act. In Pakistan, numerous shrines and holiest sites are spreading the teachings of love, peace, harmony and humanity among nation. For centuries the famous shrines of Ali Hujwiri, Fariduddin Ganjshakar, Baha-ud-din Zakariya , and Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Lahore, Pakpattan, Multan and Sehwan were main source to spread the religion throughout the Indian subcontinent. Many devotees often visit these shrines for spiritual and mystical guidance.

Unfortunately, some people use shrines for their vested interests. They receive donations, gifts and cash from visitors. The poor are being deceived by bogus defenders of shrines. This is the ugly face of our country where not only politicians, dictators, and the elites have plundered the nation but so-called spiritual leaders also deceive them. This is high time to regulate the shrines in country. All such dubious shrines and their custodians should be dealt with severely under the law. German writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said: “Nothing is more terrible than to see ignorance in action”. This bloodbath at shrine is real ignorance in action and due to lack of education. The state must have to allocate more budget and give focus on most neglected sector education on war footings because education is a better safeguard of a society than a standing army.

Engr Mansoor Ahmed

Faisalabad