Sialvi’s sit-in today

LAHORE: Preparations for holding the proposed sit-in at Data Darbar today (Saturday) by custodian of Sial Sharif shrine of Sargodha, Pir Hameeduddin Sialvi, were in full swing on Friday night as groups of religious workers from different parts of the province began arriving at the welcome camps set up at various entry points of the city.

Pir of Sial Sharif was expected to reach Lahore on Saturday morning along with devotees and supporters to lead the sit-in, which was being staged against the rulers’ alleged role in amending the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat oath for legislators. Pir Sialvi had repeatedly demanded resignation of Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and the government’s written commitment to avert western conspiracies against the Khatm-e-Nabuwwat legislation in future. He had given an earlier deadline for fulfillment of those demands, failing which he is now staging the sit-in.

Though the district administration had denied permission to stage the sit-in outside the Data Darbar or Punjab Assembly yet the leaders of dozens of religious parties announced joining the sit-in. The parties which announced supporting him included Sunni Ittehad Council, JUP-Noorani, JUP-Niazi, Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, Sunni Tehrik, TLYR, Nizam-e-Mustafa Party, Tehrik Faizan Aulia, Anjuman Talaba Islam, Nizam-e-Mustafa Muttahida Mahaz (NMMM), Pakistan Mashaikh Council, Jamaat Salehin and others.

A large number of custodians of important shrines in the country have also announced to join the sit-in. The welcome camps have been set up at Shahdara Chowk, Thokar Niaz Beg, Saggian Bridge, Sherakot, and other entry points of the city.