Turned into a Shoe Market

By Staff Reporter, *Revealed: Anarkali shops illegally built on saint’s property* - The Nation - Pakistan; Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Revealed: Anarkali shops illegally built on saint’s property

The representatives of an organisation working for conservation of heritage have revealed that the original property belonging to Hazrat Mian Mir, a famous Sufi saint who resided in Lahore, was located in Anarkali Bazaar.

“The property has now been turned into a shoe market,” they said at a press conference held at Lahore Press Club on Tuesday.

Lohkot Cultural and Heritage Society Chairman Rao Javid Iqbal, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee Chairman Sardar Sham Singh, Pandit Lal Khokar, Faqir Saifuddin, Hajid Ronaq Ali and others demanded that the Punjab Government constitute a committee to investigate the issue and retrieve the saint’s land from the illegal occupants.

Showing documental proof to the journalists regarding the custody of the property by Hazrat Mian Mir (RA), they said that they would move a court if the provincial government did not pay any attention towards this serious issue. According to them, about 12 shops on the right side of the entry point to the Anakali Bazaar were built illegally on the saint’s property.

Till 1950s, they said, there were a mosque, a Chillagah, a worship place, and a well where the Sufi saint used to pray. Later on, they added, all these signs disappeared. The revenue record clearly narrated the shifting of the property from Mian Mir (RA) to the current owners, they added.

Meanwhile, Punjab Minister for Auqaf Haji Ehsanuddin Qureshi on Tuesday inaugurated the 388th annual Urs celebrations of Sufi saint Hazrat Mian Mir Sahib (RA). The Minister along with others laid chaddar on the shrine of Sufi saint and offered dua for the prosperity, development and peace in the country.

Addressing after the inauguration, the Minister said that the government was paying special attention to the provision of best facilities to the devotees and to look after the shrines. He said that Auqaf Department is spending money collected at the shrines on the welfare of deserving people and the devotees.

The Minister said that strict security arrangements with 300 security personal have been made and no one would be allowed to enter the shrine without proper checking. Qureshi said that Ulema and mushaikh should create tolerance among the masses by promoting teachings of the saints in the society.

He said that in the present situation, brotherhood can be maintained among various segments of the society by promoting teachings of Sufis and saints.

Director General, Director Administration and Manager Auqaf besides Ulema and a large number of people were also present on the occasion.