Karachis anti-cyclone saint One of the most popular urban myths of Karachi is related to one of its largest Sufi shrines (Abdullah Shah Ghazi). Built more than 10 centuries ago as the final resting place of an obscure Sufi saint, Shah Ghazi, on the shores of Karachi, thousands of the saints admirers have always believed that the reason why cyclones usually miss hitting Karachi is mainly due to the mystical power and presence of Shah Ghazis spirit that resides within the shrine Of course, many Karachittes also laugh off such beliefs, but even till this day there are many who are convinced that Shah Ghazis spirit remains to be the citys best deterrent against raging cyclones. Till the early 1950s the shrine was just a tiny, shaky hut on top of a sandy hill in what we now know as Clifton and Sea View area in Karachi. (see first pic). The tiny shrine began to be expanded in the mid-1960s by the Ayub Khan regime, especially for the large number of working-class men and women who began to migrate to Karachi from small towns and villages looking for work. The populist ZA Bhutto regime (1971-77) further expanded the shrine and it was during this time it became one of Karachis largest. However, though the shrine remained to be a popular spot for the citys growing working-class and lower-middle-class segments (of all ethnicities), it was neglected by the Zia regime (1977-88). It began to look shabby and in need of repairs. In 2005, the MQM city government (backed by the Musharraf regime) started an extensive repair, cleaning up and renovation job on the shrine which was completed in 2007 (see pic 2). It continues to draw huge crowds.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 18:41:41 +0000
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