The district administration in Multan has made elaborate security arrangements in connection with the annual three-day Urs celebrations of Shah Ruknuddin Alam, started on Saturday. The district administration have deployed around 2,200 security personnel and installed walk through gates at the entrances of the shrine to ensure protection of the devotees.
The Saint is still revered today and his tomb is the focus of pilgrimage by thousands of devotees from all over South Asia who commemorate his memory. Besides Daulat Gate, deployment of security staff has also been made on all roads leading to the shrine.
The custodian of the mausoleum, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi formally inaugurated the ceremony by giving Ghusl (bath) to the shrine, a news channel reported. Sheikh Ruknuddin Abul Fateh (1251-1335) commonly known by the title Rukn-e-Alam (pillar of the world) is among the eminent Sufi saints from Multan. The Shaikh was son of Pir Sadar-Al-Din Arif born at Multan on Friday, the 9th of Ramadan 649 Hijri (26 November 1251). He was the grandson and successor of Shaikh Bahauddin Zakariya.