781st annual urs of Bahauddin Zikiriya begins here today

MULTAN, Sept- 23rd: The 781th Urs celebrations of one of the greatest saints of South Asia Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya Multani started here Wednesday. Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is sajada nasheen (the caretaker of the mausoleum) of the shrine inaugurated the ceremony. He performed the ablution of the mausoleum of the holy saint and also lay a wreath of flowers on the grave. Noted industrialist, former caretaker Punjab Minister for Industries and chairman of Multan Dryport Trust Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi was accompanied by him during the "Ghusal" of the shrine and he also attended the National Zakariya Conference. Hundreds of devotees from length and breadth of the country reached Multan to celebrate the 781st Urs celebrations of the great saint.
A National Zakariya Conference was held on the first day of the Urs. A large number of Ulema and devotees from across the country attended the conference. They prayed for prosperity, stability  and security of the country.
Speaking at the first session of the conference, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi stressed the need for disseminating the saints' teaching of love.
He said he was convinced that lovers of the saint had faced no restriction to observe memories of their beloved saint.He said his grandeur lied in it that he would remain stuck to shrines of saints. The kiss of love I find here found no alternate in my life, he said.

There is a dire need to spread the teachings of Sufi saints in order to get rid of terrorism and extremism, stated Shah Mahmood Qureshi while presiding over the first session of the National Zakariya Conference.
By following his teachings, we can promote brotherhood, equality and religious harmony within the country, he added.
Multan Deputy Commissioner Amer Khattak said that strict security measures have been adopted, Speaking to the media, he revealed that a large contingent of police have been deployed at Fort Qasim and the surrounding area.
He added that CCTV cameras have been installed to monitor security inside and outside the shrine. In addition to this, transport and food arrangements were also made for the devotees while a public holiday has been announced for September 25, he said.
The DC said that the solid waste management company had also been appointed to maintain cleanliness at the shrine. Special squads have been constituted to clean the restrooms of schools and colleges where devotees are staying, he said. Allah's special blessings are held on those who play role for arrangements of Urs and distributing Langar (meal) among the visitors. Peace, broth hood and love are disseminated only from places of shrines.More than 1,000 police personnel have been deployed for security.