Over 72 people have been declared dead and 150+ injured in the deadly blasts that took place today at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Sufi Shrine at Sehwan town of Sindh. Police authorities have confirmed that, it’s a suicide attack. ISIS in Pakistan have claimed responsibility for the attack. Previously ISIS had done suicide attacks at Shah Noorani Sufi Shrine, where over 45 people were killed.
Just like the attack at Shah Noorani Sufi Shrine, even this attack happened when the devotees were performing dhamaal, a devotional dance (as per The Tribune, Pakistan). ISIS considers devotees of Sufism as apostates and vowed to kill them.
Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Sufi Shrine is built around the grave of Syed Muhammad Usman Marwandi in 1356 AD, 81 years after his death. Usman Marwandi was a philosopher and poet. According to a legend, he transformed himself to a falcon and flew to the Holy cities of Mecca and Madina. Usman Marwandi is popularly known as “Lal Shahbaz” among his disciples. In the Sufi posters, he is depicted either flying with wings or doing “dhamaal”, a ritual sufi dance. Several popular songs known as Qawwalis in Pakistan are written in praise of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
