Pakistani shrines given 10 days to enhance security

Islamabad: In the wake of terror attacks across Pakistan, the Punjab government has given a 10-day deadline to improve the security of Sufi shrines.

The order was issued to the representatives of the shrines and the Auqaf Department in Rawalpindi on Monday by Deputy Commissioner Talat Mahmoud Gondal, Dawn online reported on Tuesday.

There are more than 70 shrines in Rawalpindi and most are run by private organisations or individuals.

Custodian Abdul Waheed on Sunday confessed killing 20 devotees at the Darbar Ali Muhammad Gujjar shrine in Sargodha.

Waheed and his accomplices intoxicated the disciples before torturing them to death.

The Deputy Commissioner expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work on the construction of boundary walls and installation of security gadgets at the shrines.

He said it was not possible for the government to provide funds to all the small and big shrines.

He said the shrines earned a handsome revenue from donations made by devotees and can easily buy the security gadgets without any help from the government.