Terrorist Attacks at Data Ganj Bakhsh (Lahore)
The mausoleum of Hadrat Ali Hijveri (formally known as Data Ghanj Bux – Distributor of Treasures) has been the visiting place for thousands of pilgrims for many last centuries. It is estimated that at least 30 thousand pilgrims visit the shrine of Hazrat Data Ghanj Bux every Thursday. Hazrat Data sahib is considered as the highest sufi saint in the sub-Indian continent and his mausoleum, located in the lively city of Lahore (Pakistan), is visited by many to seek religious and spiritual guidance.

In the last 10 centuries, many disturbing events have taken place in the sub-Indian continent. However, no one in the past has dared to pollute the sacredness of the shrine of Hazrat Data sahib. During the Mughul rule, imperialism, rule of Sikh Rajas, and even at the time of independence, the sacredness of the tomb of Hadrat Ali Hajveri was upheld by the ruling and the oppressed sections of the society. Every religious community has benefited from the teachings and practices of the Hazrat Data sahib and after his departure from this physical world, his resting place has been the fountain of love, peace and tranquility.
This peace was only disturbed on the night of 2nd July 2010 by the terrorist attacks. In an unprecedented event, three suicide bombers attacked the peaceful shrine of Hadrat Data Ganj Bakhsh on Thursday night when 25 thousand people had come to make prayers at the blessed resting place of Data sahib.
The people who have carried such atrocities have no conscious and moral values. They belong to no religion as every religion teaches love and harmony. They did not carry out such attacks in the name of religion, but only to spread anarchy and disturbance on this earth.
The day after the attack, despite grave security concerns, thousands of people flocked to the Data Darbar to offer the Friday prayer and to show to the whole world and to the terrorists that the people of Pakistan will not be intimidated by such suicide bombings. All the religious scholars of different school of thoughts also came together to show their unity.
People coming to Data Darbar right after these attacks also shows that the significance and importance of Data Darbar cannot be undermined no matter how brutal terrorist attacks can be. Data Darbar is the most sacred and holy mausoleum in Pakistan. People of Pakistan have great love and bond with Hazrat Data Ghanj Bux. These terrorists have tried to hurt not just the people of Lahore, but every single Pakistani of every age and gender, including members of every religious community.
Members of Deen Foundation strongly condemn such inhumane attacks on the sufi shrines and pray that all those who have been affected by such attacks Allah make their lives easier and grants them success in the hereafter. Aameen.
A poet has expressed his love for Data sahib in the following verses:
تو گنج بخش تیرا کام سب کو عطا کرنا
اپنوں اور غیروں کا سب کا بھلا کرنا
لوٹا نہیں نامراد کوئی تیرے در سے
منگتا ہوں تیرا مجھ کو بھِی تو اپنا کرنا
[قاری محمد قاسم]۔
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