06-03-2006, 06:36 AM
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Mysticâs truth?: Military dictator fulfilled a saintâs prediction
By Shahzad Raza
ISLAMABAD: Followers of Bari Imam believe that the saint had predicted in the 17th century that a city would be established around his tomb that would serve the cause of Islam. And it was in 1961, that a military dictator decided to shift the federal capital from Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan, to an arid hilly area, which was given the name Islamabad.
Half of the saintâs prediction has come true that of a city standing around his tomb. However, the remaining part of the prediction about the city serving the cause of Islam remains to be seen.
The shrine dedicated to the imam has fallen into dereliction and has become a sanctuary for drug addicts and has also faced security risks with a suicide bomber blowing himself up last year, killing 20 pilgrims at the shrine and injuring others.
The saint was much revered during his lifetime and still has thousands of devotees that visit his shrine each year on his urs (death anniversary). Some people say that the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir himself came to pay respects to the saint. Noorpur Shahan has become famous for the mirror-studded shrine of the saint. There is a cave in the Margalla Hills on the back of the shrine where Bari Imam is believed to have meditated.
The shrine is located behind Prime Ministerâs House and the Presidency, which is obviously a sensitive part of the city and open to threats. A senior police official said that more than 60,000 people live in the area surrounding the shrine, but it still gives a deserted look especially after dark.
After the suicide attack last year, floodlights were installed in an outside the tomb with plain-clothes policemen patrolling the area to keep a check on all âsuspiciousâ activity.
Drugs addicts have become a common feature of the shrine, although drug trafficking and consuming had never been part of the teachings of the saint. Hashish is widely sold at the urs. The Bari Imam shrine offers a safe-heaven to addicts. There are allegations from visitors to the shrine that the administration of the shrine gives cover to the criminals.
Mysticâs truth?: Military dictator fulfilled a saintâs prediction
By Shahzad Raza
ISLAMABAD: Followers of Bari Imam believe that the saint had predicted in the 17th century that a city would be established around his tomb that would serve the cause of Islam. And it was in 1961, that a military dictator decided to shift the federal capital from Karachi, the largest city of Pakistan, to an arid hilly area, which was given the name Islamabad.
Half of the saintâs prediction has come true that of a city standing around his tomb. However, the remaining part of the prediction about the city serving the cause of Islam remains to be seen.
The shrine dedicated to the imam has fallen into dereliction and has become a sanctuary for drug addicts and has also faced security risks with a suicide bomber blowing himself up last year, killing 20 pilgrims at the shrine and injuring others.
The saint was much revered during his lifetime and still has thousands of devotees that visit his shrine each year on his urs (death anniversary). Some people say that the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir himself came to pay respects to the saint. Noorpur Shahan has become famous for the mirror-studded shrine of the saint. There is a cave in the Margalla Hills on the back of the shrine where Bari Imam is believed to have meditated.
The shrine is located behind Prime Ministerâs House and the Presidency, which is obviously a sensitive part of the city and open to threats. A senior police official said that more than 60,000 people live in the area surrounding the shrine, but it still gives a deserted look especially after dark.
After the suicide attack last year, floodlights were installed in an outside the tomb with plain-clothes policemen patrolling the area to keep a check on all âsuspiciousâ activity.
Drugs addicts have become a common feature of the shrine, although drug trafficking and consuming had never been part of the teachings of the saint. Hashish is widely sold at the urs. The Bari Imam shrine offers a safe-heaven to addicts. There are allegations from visitors to the shrine that the administration of the shrine gives cover to the criminals.