It has been almost 19 years since the Syedna or the spiritual leader of the Bohra community has graced the city of Karachi with his presence for the Ashara. Or the 10 days of remembrance of the Martyrdom of Imam Hussrain A.S.
More than 40,000 Bohra community members have descended on the city to swell the the numbers of the tens of thousands who already live in Karachi.
“The Mission is pleased to have issued visit visas to the Bohra community members for Pakistan on very short notice,” a diplomat at the UAE Consulate said.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Moazzam Ahmad Khan told this correspondent that the government of Pakistan has given special permission to missions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to issue visas to the Bohri community.
‘’I am very grateful to our consular staff who worked extra-hours just to facilitate the Bohri community with issuing visas on an urgent basis,’’ the ambassador said. Khan also expressed his satisfaction over Pakistan’s improving image as a peace-loving country.
Similarly, tens of thousands of Bohras have also traveled from India with many at the border of the tow countries pending the processing of their visas.
The leaders of Dawoodi Bohra community thanked the efforts of Pakistan’s diplomats for making it possible for them to visit Karachi to observe their religious rituals.
Appreciating the Bohra Community’s confidence in Pakistan and its law enforcement agencies, many citizens said that it was a turning point for Pakistan for Karachi to perceived as a non-violent and peaceful city.
Amongst the teeming thousands there are Bohras from the “Country above USA,” USA itself as well as Yemen, Egypt and many other far flung parts from all over the world.
Meanwhile, the security measures put in place are pretty extravagant to say the least. This scribe was informed that a typical constable is being paid Rs.1000 every alternate day, while DSPs are being paid 30k or so.
Addionaly, the community has gone out of its way to ensure that the people from all over the world feel perfectly at home. At every majlis, be it afternoon or night. Full course buffets are being served as Niaz-e-Hussain (A.S).
This visit has indeed put the community in the spotlight and has also shown that Karachi. The city of lights is rapidly becoming peaceful all over again.
