11 days on, Sehwan shrine awaits proper security plan

SEHWAN: Although 11 days have passed, security at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar remains lax.

There are 100 personnel deployed at and around the shrine, but not a single female constable is part of the force on duty.

While talking to Geo News, a visitor expressed concern over no female constable being deployed as part of the security measure.

The few security measures that seem to be in place include sealing of the doors. Seven out of eight doors of the shrine have been sealed.

The incident —that resulted in the death of over 90 people and left many injured — gave rise to questions that brought to surface the security lapse in the area.

Life in the area is creeping back to normal, but the lax security fails to protect residents and visitors. The shrine premises has 48 cameras out of which 40 are working, but once out of the shrine, there is no camera to monitor activities. Even after such a deadly incident, there is no ambulance parked at or outside the shrine.

The number of devotees has returned to what it used to be before the blast shook Sehwan, but they are apprehensive given the vulnerability they see themselves under.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah had issued directives to tighten security at the shrine after the blast and DIG Establishment Amin Yousafzai had said the security at Data Ganj Baksh shrine in Lahore should be replicated for the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, after visiting Lahore and then Sehwan. But a security plan at the Sehwan shrine is still awaited.

Talking to Geo News, ASP Sami Malik accepted that no female constable is deployed.