HYDERABAD:
The three-day devotional festivities in Sehwan, marking the 774th Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (RA), concluded on Monday, with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah claiming that over three million devotees attended the event.
CM Shah, who performed the closing ceremony at the shrine, said the Urs proceeded despite security concerns following the recent suicide bombing at a Rawalpindi mosque. Over 5,000 police officers and 300 Rangers personnel, along with CCTV and drone surveillance, were deployed, ensuring the large spiritual congregation concluded without incident.
Cultural, literary, musical, and sports events were held during the second and third days of the Urs. Prof KS Nagpal highlighted the significance of Qalandars in the Muslim world, noting that Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is among the three revered Qalandars, alongside Bu Ali Qalandar (RA) and Rabia Basri (RA).
Prof Inam Shaikh stressed Sehwan’s historical role as a centre of education, calling for further research on Qalandar’s influence in the town. Dr Makhmoor Bukhari raised questions about why Qalandar chose to settle in Sehwan in 1220 AD after leaving Central Asia.
On the final day, provincial secretary Munawar Ali Mahesar distributed certificates to wrestlers participating in the traditional Sindhi sport, Malakhra.
CM media talk
The CM while responding to a query assured that price control measures during the upcoming holy month of Ramazan will prevent traders from fleecing the public. He, however, did not elaborate precisely what strategy his provincial government has planned to apply. “Prices of goods and commodities are reduced during special and religious occasions all over the world but here traders inflate the prices,” he deplored.
He claimed that the problems like theft or engineering shortage of wheat will also be tackled. CM Shah recalled that they have conveyed to the centre their plan of procuring one million ton of wheat in the upcoming harvest.
