The Sufi ritual of dhamaal resumed at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar on Friday, a day after a suicide attack ripped through devotees at the shrine while the ritual was being performed after evening prayers.

More than 80 people were killed and over 200 injured in the suicide attack on Thursday evening, the worst attack on a Sufi shrine in Pakistan's history.

At 3.30am on Friday morning, the shrine's caretaker had stood among the carnage and defiantly rang its bell, a daily ritual that he vowed to continue, saying he will “not bow down to terrorists".

Mystics whirl during the dhamaal —DawnNews.
Mystics whirl during the dhamaal —DawnNews.

Later, devotees had tried to break a police cordon to enter the shrine, saying they would not be deterred by the attack.

The custodian of the shrine, Dr Syed Mehdi Raza Shah, had also announced in the afternoon that the evening dhamaal would continue as usual.

Hundreds of devotees, undeterred and seemingly fearless, attended the evening ritual on Friday.

Opinion

Editorial

Mineral wealth
Updated 10 Apr, 2025

Mineral wealth

The Baloch unrest is partly the result of the belief that the province’s resources are being used for the rest of the country rather than for Balochistan’s economic development.
Senate shortfalls
10 Apr, 2025

Senate shortfalls

THE latest Citizens’ Report by Pildat on the performance of the Senate of Pakistan is a sobering account of...
Crypto coup
10 Apr, 2025

Crypto coup

IT is quite the coup. One of the most recognisable names in the global cryptocurrency market has been roped in by ...
Following through
Updated 09 Apr, 2025

Following through

Reconciliation, development, and deradicalisation initiatives cannot remain dormant words in a policy document.
Robe rebellion
09 Apr, 2025

Robe rebellion

THE unrest within the Islamabad High Court shows no sign of abating, and it is perhaps just as well that the ...
Fearing birth
09 Apr, 2025

Fearing birth

AMID dramatic aid cuts, the WHO has sounded the alarm about the dangers to Pakistan’s mothers and newborns, asking...