Bari Imam urs: Overcharging, drugs, crime rampant
Bari Imam urs: Overcharging, drugs, crime rampant
By Atif Khan
ISLMABAD: Devotees at Bari Imam Shrine on Wednesday complained that the Islamabad administration could not control crime, high prices, substandard food, transport problems and drug addiction during the days of urs.Thousands of people have come to Noorpur Shahan from all over the country in connection with the five-day urs of the great saint, Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif, popularly known as Bari Imam.The place has been turned into a city of camps, thickly crowded by men and women. Most visitors came from outside Islamabad and complained that transporters were fleecing them.“Normally, fare to reach the shrine from bus stop is Rs 15 but public transporters are charging Rs 30- 40 per passenger nowadays,” Ishaq Khan, a visitor, told Daily Times.Taxi drivers have also almost doubled the fares. However, Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) Deputy Superintendent Syed Hassan Raza told Daily Times that the ITP had been checking all transporters and there was no overcharging. He said it would be ensured that public transport vehicles did not overcharge the passengers. Parking problems: The vacant area surrounding the shrine has been converted into disorderly parking lots by the city administration. Raza said, “The administration has allocated parking contract to local contractors and it is their duty to arrange for smooth parking of vehicles at the shrine.”Crime: Over 1,250 personnel of the Islamabad police have been deployed at the shrine to control crime and numerous walkthrough gates with CCTV cameras have been installed to check unruly elements. Nonetheless, the visitors were not satisfied with security arrangements stating that the security personnel have focused only on suicide bombers while the incidents of pocket pickings and mobile snatching are rife. Police officials said people were also responsible for their own safety. Karamat Ali, a police official manning a check post about three kilometres away from the shrine, said hundreds of people visited the shrine and other related sites at a time. He said the people openly smoke hash and drink liquor near a cave frequented by the saint with no regard to the fact that it disturbed others, especially women and children. He said the police were unable to stop the use of drugs and hooliganism because of shortage of manpower. He appealed to visitors not to use drugs and regard the sanctity of the shrine. Lungar (free meals) is distributed by the Auqaf department and other volunteers in addition to the food stalls that flank the road near shrine.These outlets sell substandard food at higher prices though many have been fined. Shafqat, a visitor, said the stallholders charged higher prices arguing that the urs would last only five days and then they would be waiting for customers the whole year.Nasir Aftab, the Islamabad Police SSP, said drug addiction had declined drastically this year compared with previous years. He said the area was open, making the movement of drugs easier. He said more police would be deputed to control addict
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\05\29\story_29-5-2008_pg11_5ion.
By Atif Khan
ISLMABAD: Devotees at Bari Imam Shrine on Wednesday complained that the Islamabad administration could not control crime, high prices, substandard food, transport problems and drug addiction during the days of urs.Thousands of people have come to Noorpur Shahan from all over the country in connection with the five-day urs of the great saint, Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif, popularly known as Bari Imam.The place has been turned into a city of camps, thickly crowded by men and women. Most visitors came from outside Islamabad and complained that transporters were fleecing them.“Normally, fare to reach the shrine from bus stop is Rs 15 but public transporters are charging Rs 30- 40 per passenger nowadays,” Ishaq Khan, a visitor, told Daily Times.Taxi drivers have also almost doubled the fares. However, Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) Deputy Superintendent Syed Hassan Raza told Daily Times that the ITP had been checking all transporters and there was no overcharging. He said it would be ensured that public transport vehicles did not overcharge the passengers. Parking problems: The vacant area surrounding the shrine has been converted into disorderly parking lots by the city administration. Raza said, “The administration has allocated parking contract to local contractors and it is their duty to arrange for smooth parking of vehicles at the shrine.”Crime: Over 1,250 personnel of the Islamabad police have been deployed at the shrine to control crime and numerous walkthrough gates with CCTV cameras have been installed to check unruly elements. Nonetheless, the visitors were not satisfied with security arrangements stating that the security personnel have focused only on suicide bombers while the incidents of pocket pickings and mobile snatching are rife. Police officials said people were also responsible for their own safety. Karamat Ali, a police official manning a check post about three kilometres away from the shrine, said hundreds of people visited the shrine and other related sites at a time. He said the people openly smoke hash and drink liquor near a cave frequented by the saint with no regard to the fact that it disturbed others, especially women and children. He said the police were unable to stop the use of drugs and hooliganism because of shortage of manpower. He appealed to visitors not to use drugs and regard the sanctity of the shrine. Lungar (free meals) is distributed by the Auqaf department and other volunteers in addition to the food stalls that flank the road near shrine.These outlets sell substandard food at higher prices though many have been fined. Shafqat, a visitor, said the stallholders charged higher prices arguing that the urs would last only five days and then they would be waiting for customers the whole year.Nasir Aftab, the Islamabad Police SSP, said drug addiction had declined drastically this year compared with previous years. He said the area was open, making the movement of drugs easier. He said more police would be deputed to control addict
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\05\29\story_29-5-2008_pg11_5ion.
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