MULTAN, June 8th:Despite attacks on mosques, shrines and places of worship, the Punjab Auqaf department has not made extra-ordinary security arrangements at the mosques and shrines under its control including the largely attended Darbar of Hazrat Bahauddin Zikiriya Suharwardi, Shah Rukn-i-Alam, Hazrat Shah Shams Sabzwari, Hazrat Moosa Pak Shaheed, Bibi Pak-Daman, Hazrat Masoom Shah and hundreds others. There are over 400 mosques and shrines controlled by the Auqaf in the province which needed a huge security force of its own but the number of guards was not beyond few dozens and quite a few police officials. The shrines are usually looked after by the volunteers (razakars) and custodians who are not only untrained but ill-equipped as well.The Auqaf had made some security arrangements at Darbar of Hazrat Shah Rukn-i-Alam and Hazrat Bahaudiin Zikiriya (RA)last year with the erection of walk-through gates and closing of rear gates following attacks on shrines, but there were no security arrangements matching the devastated terrorist attacks manipulated by the trained and suicide squads backed by the foreign intelligence agencies.This arrangement too has weakened with the passage of time. The Bibian Pakdaman shrine was also opened and there was no restriction to enter even with arms and ammunition. The Auqaf fetches millions of cash income from these shrines. It is the department’s responsibility to provide protection, cleanliness, security and facilities to the devotees.