Farhad for exemplary punishment for shrine attackers

Writer and thinker Farhad Mazhar has called for a strict punishment against those involved in the attack on devotees at the Shah Ali Shrine in Mirpur, warning that any failure to ensure justice could have serious political consequences.

 Speaking at a solidarity programme on Sunday, he strongly condemned the violence and urged authorities to act swiftly, while a separate delegation and shrine devotees also demanded an impartial investigation and accountability over all attacks on shrines recently.

He said, "Those who gave their lives in front of bullets in the mass uprising are nothing but madmen. Attacking madmen means attacking the Prophet of Islam."

He also warned the authorities against inaction, saying, "If action is not taken against those involved in the attack on the devotees at the shrine, the government may face the same consequences as the fascists." Referring to his long association with spiritual communities, he added, "I have been playing with madmen for 50 years, and have not been able to form a state yet. Therefore, do not play with madmen."

A shrine devotee Resmi Begum filed a case with police station on Saturday over the alleged vandalism and attack.