Thousands of pilgrims throng Hinglaj for Pakistan’s largest Hindu festival

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Entrance of Hinglaj Mata Mandir, a temple situated in Lasbela district of Balochistan. (AN Photo)
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Thousands attend the annual Hinglaj Mela in Hingol National Park of Lasbela Balochistan. (AN Photo)
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Hinglaj goddess at Hinglaj Mata Mandir. (AN Photo)
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Thousands of Hindus from different parts of the country walk by foot for weeks to arrive at Hinglaj as pledge to Sri Hinglaj Mata. (AN Photo)
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Pesumal Arlani, General Secretary of the Hinglaj Mata committee, speaking to Arab News. (AN Photo)
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Organizers of the Hinglaj Mela say the annual pilgrimage generates business for thousands of people from community as well as local Muslims. (AN Photo)
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Presently with few armaments for thousands of Hindus pilgrim in place, the Yatris make their own shades to spend days and nights atHinglaj Mata temple. (AN Photo)
Updated 02 May 2019
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Thousands of pilgrims throng Hinglaj for Pakistan’s largest Hindu festival

  • Cave temple of Hinglaj Mata in Balochistan province has for years been the site of a revered pilgrimage
  • The four-day festival has attracted more and more people since the Makran Coastal Highway was built

BELA, BALOCHISTAN: Thousands of Pakistani Hindus flocked last week to the cave temple of Hinglaj Mata in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province in what is considered the largest Hindu pilgrimage in Pakistan. 
The festival happens in April each year and concluded this Sunday after four days of high priests chanting mantras and beseeching Hindu gods to accept the offerings of the devotees and bestow peace and prosperity on them.
According to Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu cut up the dead body of Sati into 50 pieces, which fell to the earth. Her head, it is believed, fell at Hinglaj and it has since been the site for a revered pilgrimage.




Maharaj Gopal, who is associated with Hinglaj Mata Mandir, for last eleven years says hundreds of Hindus from abroad, including India, visit the temple annually (AN Photo)

Pilgrims arrive from all over Pakistan, adorned in decorative red-and-gold head-scarves and saffron headbands to mark the holy colors of Hinglaj Mata.
The Hinglaj Yatra is “as significant to Hindus as is Hajj important to Muslims,” said Maharaj Gopal, a pundit in traditional orange robes. 
Most pilgrims come in buses, some on private cars and even on bicycles all the way from Karachi. Others prefer to walk. The greater the suffering, the pilgrims say, the greater the reward.
Lakshmi, 65, began her journey from the town of Matli in southern Sindh province on April 9 and walked a distance of 448 kilometers to reach the cave temple located in a narrow gorge on the mouth of the Kheerthar hills in Pakistan’s ancient Makran desert.
“The journey is long but the blessing is huge,” she said. 
Pesumal Arlani, General Secretary of the Hinglaj Mata committee who launched the four-day festival in 1988, told Arab News the number of pilgrims was increasing each year due to better arrangements and the construction of the Makran Coastal Highway, a 653 kilometer national highway that extends along Pakistan’s Arabian Sea coast from Karachi in Sindh province to Gwadar on the top of Balochistan.




Thousands attend the annual Hinglaj Mela in Hingol National Park of Lasbela Balochistan (AN Photo)

Baluchistan has long been plagued by violence and a stubborn insurgency, with several separatist groups and Islamist militants operating in a region that boasts vast gas and mineral resources.
Security has improved considerably across much of Pakistan in recent years but Balochistan is still plagued by attacks. Last month, gunmen pulled 14 members of the Pakistani armed forces off buses and shot them dead in the town of Ormara. 
Deputy Commissioner Lasbela Shabbir Ahmed Mengal said better security arrangements and ease for pilgrims was now the authorities’ priority. 
“We have plans to build resorts and provide other facilities to encourage more and more Hindus from abroad to visit the temple,” Mengal told Arab News. 
Most pilgrims come from the southern Sindh province where a majority of Pakistan’s tiny Hindu minority of around 3 million people lives. A few hundred also visit from India, the United States, the United Kingdom, France and other countries, pundit Gopal said. “When they go back, they are considered saints due to the importance of this pilgrimage.”
Devotees from Pakistan’s arch-rival and neighboring India, a Hindu majority nation, too want to visit but find it hard to get visas. 




Thousands attend the annual Hinglaj Mela in Hingol National Park of Lasbela Balochistan (AN Photo)

“Strained relations is a big hurdle,” said Preeti Sompura, a Mumbai based journalist associated with India TV. “If relations between the two neighbors normalize it will allow people from India to go to Pakistan for this important pilgrimage.”
In the past, many prominent Indians, including former external affairs minister, Jaswant Singh, have visited Hinglaj for the pilgrimage. A large number of the Muslims also visit each year. 
“Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal has announced Rs200 million for the master plan of the Hinglaj Mandir and Rs100million for making the road” that leads up to the temple, said Danish Kumar, Balochistan’s parliamentary secretary for religious affairs. 
“Our government is making efforts to turn the festival into a religious tourist gathering. In the future, it will be an international festival.”


PM Sharif says nation stands with security forces after killing of militants amid surge in attacks

Updated 23 November 2024
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PM Sharif says nation stands with security forces after killing of militants amid surge in attacks

  • PM says government is committed to eradicating militancy after security forces kill three in northwest
  • The development comes amid rising violence in Pakistan that has witnessed deadly attacks recently

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday the nation stands firmly with its security forces as the military announced the killing of three militants in two separate operations in the country’s northwest amid a sharp rise in violence.
Pakistan’s military also injured three combatants during intelligence-based operations conducted in Khyber and South Waziristan districts on Nov. 21-22.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), two militants were killed in an operation in Bara, Khyber district, while another was killed and three injured during an attempt to infiltrate Pakistan from the Afghanistan border.
The ISPR reiterated Pakistan’s call for Afghanistan’s Taliban-led interim government to prevent its territory from being used for violent attacks against Pakistan, emphasizing the country’s commitment to securing its borders and eradicating militancy.
“The enemies of humanity will continue to face failure in their evil designs,” the prime minister said in a statement released by his office after the ISPR shared the information. “The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the brave soldiers of our security forces in the fight against terrorism.”
Sharif added his government remains committed to eradicating militancy and ensuring the complete elimination of extremist violence in the country.
The ISPR’s announcement comes amid escalating violence in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, which has witnessed multiple deadly attacks in the past week.
In the latest assault on Thursday, gunmen attacked vehicles carrying minority Shiite community members in KP’s Kurram district, triggering deadly sectarian clashes that have so far killed 64 people.
Prior to that, militants targeted a checkpost in KP’s Bannu district during the week, killing 10 army soldiers and two paramilitary Frontier Constabulary personnel.
Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, during a visit to Peshawar on Friday, vowed decisive action against militant groups and emphasized the need for synchronized operations to dismantle militant networks.
Pakistan’s other western province of Balochistan has also seen a resurgence in militant activity this year.
On Tuesday, the prime minister chaired a meeting of civil and military leaders that approved a “comprehensive operation” to counter separatist insurgents in Balochistan.
The government’s latest actions underline Pakistan’s struggle to address growing instability along its borders and in remote regions, where a combination of militant activity and weak governance continues to pose significant challenges to security forces.
 


Punjab chief minister suspends top hospital officials over AIDS outbreak during dialysis

Updated 23 November 2024
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Punjab chief minister suspends top hospital officials over AIDS outbreak during dialysis

  • Action comes after 25 patients in Multan contract AIDS due to reuse of disposable dialysis kits
  • Maryam Nawaz visit Nishtar Hospital, emphasizes stricter compliance with medical protocols

ISLAMABAD: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has suspended six officials at Nishtar Hospital Multan, including the medical superintendent, for severe negligence that led to the spread of AIDS among dialysis patients, state media reported on Saturday.
According to local news outlets, the negligence involved reusing disposable dialysis kits and dialyzers, failing to conduct mandatory AIDS and hepatitis tests every three months and improper adherence to medical protocols.
Hospital officials acknowledged that 25 patients contracted AIDS after undergoing dialysis using equipment previously contaminated by infected individuals.
“Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz visited Nishtar Hospital Multan and suspended six officials, including MS Nishtar Hospital and the head of the nephrology department, on severe negligence,” Radio Pakistan reported.
“She took action against doctors and nurses for spreading AIDS during dialysis,” it added.
AIDS, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), attacks the immune system and leaves individuals vulnerable to infections and certain cancers. In Pakistan, the social stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS has led to significant underreporting, with UNAIDS estimating approximately 290,000 people living with HIV in the country as of 2023.
According to Pakistan’s Geo TV, the chief minister inspected the hospital during her visit and criticized its poor compliance with standard operating procedures.
She described the situation as “criminal negligence” and expressed dissatisfaction despite the government’s allocation of resources to the health sector.
“It is unacceptable that patients who come to government hospitals for treatment end up contracting AIDS instead,” Geo quoted her as saying.
Public health facilities in Pakistan face a severe trust deficit, with many patients preferring private hospitals despite their high costs. Poor management, insufficient oversight and a lack of adherence to medical protocols continue to erode confidence in the public health care system.
The Punjab chief minister emphasized the need for stricter compliance with protocols and greater accountability for medical staff to prevent such incidents in the future.
She also inspected cardiology and other wards during her visit.


Authorities in Pakistan’s northwest push for ceasefire as Kurram clashes kill 64

Updated 23 November 2024
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Authorities in Pakistan’s northwest push for ceasefire as Kurram clashes kill 64

  • KP administration sends a high-level delegation to the restive region to consult local elders
  • Provisional spokesman denies the delegation’s helicopter came under fire while landing

PESHAWAR: The death toll in days-long sectarian clashes in Pakistan’s northwestern Kurram district has risen to 64, authorities said on Saturday, as the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) announced it was striving for a ceasefire and would develop its strategy to address the situation in consultation with local elders.
The violence in the restive tribal district bordering Afghanistan began on Thursday when gunmen attacked a convoy carrying members of the minority Shiite community, killing 41 people.
Clashes intensified over the next 24 hours, with sporadic gunfire reported in multiple areas of Kurram, leaving 23 more dead and at least 86 wounded, according to local officials.
“The provincial government is making serious efforts for a peaceful and sustainable resolution of the Kurram conflict,” KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who chaired a meeting via video link to discuss the situation, was quoted as saying in an official statement. “A ceasefire in the area is essential to move toward resolving the conflict.”
“The provincial government will formulate its plan of action in light of consultations and proposals from local elders,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the KP administration dispatched a high-level delegation to Kurram to assess the situation and engage with tribal leaders. Local media widely reported that the delegation’s helicopter came under fire while landing, a claim the provincial authorities denied as “baseless.”
“We landed safely and held meetings with tribal elders and officials of the district administration in Kurram,” said provincial government spokesman Muhammad Ali Saif in a video statement. “There was no such incident [of firing on the helicopter].”
Former parliamentarian Sajid Hussain Turi, who was part of the delegation, also dismissed the reports as “propaganda,” urging media outlets to verify information before circulating.
The delegation met with Shia elders in Parachinar, the district’s main town, to seek proposals for ending the violence and is scheduled to meet Sunni elders in Sadda on Sunday, officials said.
The clashes mark one of the deadliest incidents in Kurram in recent years, following outbreaks of sectarian violence in July and September that killed dozens.
Gandapur described Friday’s attacks as “deeply regrettable and condemnable” and said the government would fulfill any legitimate demands from both sides to prevent further bloodshed.
“Establishing peace in the region is currently the provincial government’s top priority,” he added.
Shop owners in Parachinar have announced a three-day strike in protest against the violence, as residents report an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty across the district.


Pakistan’s anti-terror body warns of militant threat to opposition protest in Islamabad

Updated 23 November 2024
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Pakistan’s anti-terror body warns of militant threat to opposition protest in Islamabad

  • NACTA alert says Taliban militants have entered Pakistan, may target Imran Khan’s party rally
  • PTI has urges people to join Sunday’s protest in the capital to secure Khan’s release from prison

KARACHI: Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) has warned of potential militant attacks targeting former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s protest march, according to a classified alert shared with provincial officials earlier this week.
The alert, issued on Thursday but revealed in the media on Saturday, cited intelligence from “multiple sources” indicating that militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had entered Pakistan from Afghanistan and infiltrated major cities.
Referring to the TTP as “Fitna Al Khawarij (FAK),” the alert warned that its fighters could target participants of the PTI protest.
“Sources have confirmed that FAK elements are planning to conduct such activities in public/political gatherings; most likely upcoming PTI protest/march as opportunity to exploit for their vested interest,” the alert, in possession of Arab News, said.
A senior NACTA official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed its authenticity.
The PTI has called on its followers to march on Islamabad on Sunday to demand Khan’s release, as he has been imprisoned for over a year.
The march also aims to protest alleged electoral manipulation in February’s general elections and to highlight concerns over judicial independence, which the government has denied.
The Taliban have not officially responded to the alert regarding their potential involvement in attacks. However, the militant group has previously maintained that it has a policy of not targeting ordinary citizens.
The government has already urged the PTI to call off the protest, citing an Islamabad High Court ruling that instructed authorities to engage with the party and ensure no disruptions in the capital ahead of a major foreign delegation visit next week.
According to Pakistan’s foreign office, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko will arrive in Islamabad on a three-day visit starting Monday to discuss economic collaboration between the two countries.


KSrelief officials join global delegation meeting PM Sharif to boost Pakistan’s polio fight

Updated 23 November 2024
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KSrelief officials join global delegation meeting PM Sharif to boost Pakistan’s polio fight

  • Shehbaz Sharif says his government will not rest until the ‘scourge of polio’ is completely eradicated
  • Pakistan has reported 52 polio cases since the beginning of the year, mostly from KP and Balochistan

KARACHI: Officials from Saudi aid agency KSrelief, as part of a Global Polio Eradication Initiative delegation, met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss strengthening Pakistan’s vaccination campaigns, tackling polio challenges and securing support for a polio-free future, according to an official statement released on Saturday.
Pakistan, along with neighboring Afghanistan, remains the last polio-endemic country in the world. The South Asian nation’s polio eradication campaign has faced serious challenges, with a significant spike in reported cases this year amid militant attacks on polio teams, prompting officials to reassess their approach to combating the crippling disease.
Pakistan reported two new polio cases from Dera Ismail Khan in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province a day earlier, bringing the total number of cases to 52 since the beginning of the year.
“Pakistan hosted a high-level delegation from the GPEI for a second time this year from Nov. 20-22,” the Pakistan Polio Eradication Program (PPEP) said in a statement, adding that the meeting reflected the highest level of political commitment to eradicating polio in the country.
The delegation included two senior KSrelief officials along with World Health Organization, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF representatives.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to the delegation for supporting Pakistan, emphasizing that the country considers the eradication of polio a top priority.
“A strategic National Emergency Action Plan is being implemented to reverse the virus surge, and all chief ministers and secretaries are providing direct oversight and working in coordination to fight the current polio outbreak,” Sharif was quoted as saying.
“The Government of Pakistan will not rest until we have ended the scourge of polio from our borders,” he added.
The delegation also visited metropolitan Karachi during their stay in the country, where its members met with female frontline health workers to discuss the challenges they face and explore ways to address them, the statement said.
Of the 52 polio cases reported in 2024, 24 were from Balochistan province, 13 from Sindh, 13 from KP, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad, the federal capital.
Poliovirus, which can cause crippling paralysis, particularly in young children, remains incurable and continues to threaten human health as long as it is not eradicated. Immunization campaigns have succeeded in most countries and have made significant progress in Pakistan, but persistent challenges remain.
In the early 1990s, Pakistan reported approximately 20,000 cases annually, but by 2018 the number had dropped to eight. Six cases were reported in 2023, and only one in 2021.