More than 5000 personnel of police and rangers were deployed to ensure law and order during 3-day festival
Sehwan, Sindh
The three-day celebrations of the 773rd Urs (Annual Festival) of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar commenced at Sehwan town of Sindh province of Pakistan amid tight security on Monday February 17, 2025. More than 5000 personnel of police and rangers, a paramilitary force, were deployed to ensure law and order.
Hundreds of thousand pilgrims from all over the country used to visiting the festival every year. The pilgrims were allowed inside the shrine after thorough checking. Check posts were also setup at different points in the town.
The security arrangements were made to avert any act of terrorism, as on February 16, 2017, the terrorists had made suicide bomb attacks at shrine killing 90 people and injuring 300 others. After this deadliest attack, the government takes such stringent security measures to ensure safety of the pilgrims.
Acting Governor of Sindh and Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Syed Owais Qadir Shah, inaugurated the festival by laying a ‘Chadar’, a piece of cloth, at the shrine and offering Fatiha.
After the inauguration, Acting Governor distributed clothes and gifts among poor and deserving women. Compared to last year, the number of devotees has increased.
Later, talking to the media persons, Owais Qadir Shah said he will write to the Chairman of the National Highway Authority regarding the delayed construction of the Indus Highway, which is causing road accidents. A number of travelers have died in accident at Indus highway during one and a half month of 2025.
As usual, folk music concert, Qawali concert and folk poetry session were held at the Shahbaz auditorium to entertain the pilgrims. Later, a literary conference was also held.
Another interesting event was Malakhrro, the traditional Sindhi wrestling, which is held all the three days of the festival. Renowned Pahlwans (wrestlers) from all over Sindh are participating to show their skills at this cultural event. Some of the famous wrestlers attending the Malakhrro are Gul Hassan Chandio, Hazoor Bux Zardari, Sajad Laghari, Ghulam Hussain Pathan, Rahib Sheedi, Moosa Behan and others.
At the end of Malakhro, cash prizes and shields were distributed among the wrestlers securing first, second and third position.
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