A Great Hand

Staff Report, "Security for mausoleums demanded" - Daily Times - Lahore, Pakistan
Thursday, March 19, 2009

UoP Pushtu Department chairman says attack on Rehman Baba’s mausoleum was one of most tragic incidents in Pakhtun history

Peshawar: Writers, poets, academics, intellectuals and people from a cross-section of society demanded at a discussion on Pashto poet Rehman Baba that the provincial government reconstruct the Sufi poet’s mausoleum, declare his yearly urs (death anniversary) a public holiday and provide full security to all mausoleums in the province.

The demand came at a discussion on attack on Rehman Baba’s mausoleum, elements involved in it, its impact and responsibilities.

Cultural Committee of the Peshawar Press Club organised the debate on Wednesday. Though the majority of participants did not specify elements involved in the attack on the Sufi poet’s mausoleum, they attributed it (attack) to sectarianism, terrorism and extremism that were trampling and seriously damaging the Pakhtun culture.

Tragic incident: Pushtu Department, University of Peshawar chairman Dr Raj Wali Shah Khattak said attack on Rehman Baba’s mausoleum was one of the most tragic incidents in Pakhtun history. “It’s an attack on Pakhtun nation and identity,” he said. Dr Khattak said anyone could be involved in the attack. “It could be a foreign religious sect influencing the region or local elements,” he said. He said people did not react to the attack as much as they should. Dr Khattak suggested full inquiry into the incident.

JUI-F provincial secretary-general Shujaul Mulk said it was a big incident paining Pakhtuns. “The Sufi poet is a big pillar in the Pakhtun culture. There are several elements involved in the attack,” said the JUI-F leader.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) provincial president Mukhtar Yousafzai alleged it was the handiwork of state institutions and intelligence agencies. “We condemn this attack,” he said.

World Pashto Conference chairman, writer and columnist Salim Raz said attacks on religious places were taking place due to a foreign religious sect that was influencing the region. He said peace could not return to the country unless sectarianism was rooted out. Raz suggested the committee probing the attack should also include people from cross-section of the society besides government officials to ensure positive results.

Writer and journalist Dr Sher Zaman Taizai feared miscreants would attack the mausoleum again after it was reconstructed.

Nationalist leader Mukhtar Bacha said Rehman Baba had a great hand in building the character of Pakhtun nation.

Minister for Sports, Tourism and Culture Syed Aqil Shah condemned the incident. He suggested establishment of a police checkpost at the mausoleum to protect it. He said the dome of the mausoleum was intact and it should be used again. The minister said the Afghan government had also expressed desire to rebuild the Rehman Baba’s mausoleum. The culture minister said the provincial government had approved Rs 30 million for the reconstruction of the mausoleum. Aqil said the cultural directorate would start functioning from April. He said a cultural seminar would also be held in April.