35 disciples hurt in fight at Luari Sharif shrine.

BADIN -- As many as 35 men, women and children were injured when two rival groups of disciples clashed outside the shrine of revered Sufi Saint Hazrat Khwaja Muhammad Zaman in Luari Sharif town of Badin district on Monday.

The shrine had been sealed decades ago over the issue of its custodianship, claimed by the two rival groups. Many disciples have died and many others injured in clashes that have taken place during the period. Heavy damage was caused to houses in arson attacks in such violent incidents in the town.

The provincial auqaf department had made several attempts to reopen it for cleaning or renovation but every time the rival groups took such attempts as a pretext to arbitrarily decide the custodianship issue, making the department to keep it closed.

Leaders of one group, Fatehullah Junejo, Aqeel Ahmed, Mir Piyar Ali Talpur and Fida Hussain, had organised congregations at various press clubs in Sindh on Monday to celebrate the 43rd birth anniversary of Pir...