Its darbar as usual at Data Sahib
By Intikhab Hanif
Saturday, 03 Jul, 2010
LAHORE: Undeterred by the suicide bombings, devotees from the city and outstations continued to throng the shrine of Lahores patron saint Data Gunj Bakhsh to pay homage and to offer Friday prayers.
People were sombre and angry over what they said the dastardly act of sacrilege. But they were not intimidated as they attended the Friday prayers in numbers described by many as more than routine.
I have come from Faisalabad to pay homage to Data Sahib and to offer Juma prayers at his shrine,
Muhammad Irfan, a businessman of Faisalabad, said.
He was accompanied by his family members and friends and said that the act of terrorism prompted them to visit the shrine of the saint whom his ancestors had revered the most.
A majority of devotees and residents of the surrounding localities did not blame any sect for the act of terrorism.
They did, however, blame the government for what they said lack of security at the shrine, and said the suicide bombers or their handlers were not Muslims.
No Muslim can dare attack the shrine of Data Sahib.
This is a conspiracy which cannot deter the devotees, said Suleiman who regularly visits the shrine to pay homage to the saint.
He said he could not visit the place on Thursday because he was ill but he had decided to offer Friday prayers there come what may.
Outside the shrine, workers of Jamaat Ahle Sunnat, Tahafuz-i-Namoos-i-Risalat and other groups of Sunnis held demonstrations throughout the day.
They blamed followers of a certain sect for the attack and even raised slogans against the Sharif brothers, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and President Zardari.
They damaged the hoardings of the Sharif brothers.
The guard of a religious leader fired in the air amidst slogans against the government and the terrorists.
Shops in the area remained closed like those in major markets in the city in mourning and as a mark of respect for Data Sahib.
People held demonstrations everywhere in the city to condemn the attack and demand elimination of the terrorists.
The Qaumi Tajir Ittehad announced three-day mourning.
People reportedly misbehaved with PML-N local leaders Khawaja Salman Rafique and Bilal Yasin when they reached the shrine.
Following the incident and continuous sloganeering against the Sharif brothers, no significant leader or official of the provincial government turned up.
The devotees started thronging the shrine since early morning. A large number of them offered Fajr
prayers.
The number swelled for Juma prayers and people, including women, were seen entering the shrine in long queues after frisking by police at the two front gates.
Khateeb of the mosque and Sahibzada Fazle Karim in their sermons condemned the attacks and said the terrorists were villains who killed innocent people at the shrine of a saint.
Emotional scenes were witnessed during the prayers as devotees cried over what they said the desecration of the shrine.
Prayers were held for those who lost their lives or were injured in the attack.
There were people who criticised the government for lack of security at the shrine despite warnings of terrorism there.
Some residents of the area surrounding the shrine condemned the appointment of security guards on the basis of favouritism Anyone showing the chit of an influential figure is appointed as a security guard.
They include even children and handicaps. They become guard by wearing grey shalwar kameez to get a salary of Rs 6,000 per month and offerings (langar) every day, said Mian Bilal.
He claimed that the guards had no formal training but still they were detailed at the shrine as a
personal favour rather than for security.
