8 January 2009
Want a Girl Scout Body Search?
Posted by admin under: International .
I almost fell out of my chair when I read what the Pakistani Scouts are being asked to do according to Sabeen Jamil in Karachi.
As the commemoration of the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain reaches its zenith, thousands of scouts were called into service to ensure security and discipline during processions and gatherings in Karachi. On request of city administrators, approximately 10,000 volunteers from different scout organisations in Karachi are performing duties such as body search, traffic control, mob management, and providing first aid during Muharram gatherings. “These duties can only be performed by those who are brave,” says Salma Ali of Isna Ashari Scouts which has provided about 45 girl scouts to maintain discipline during Muharram.
A housewife in her 40s, Salma Ali has been performing her duties at the Shah-e-Khurasan, a Shiite mosque in Jamshed Town every Muharram for the past six years now. “This is life threatening,” she says while speaking to The News. Her duties include body search of women, making way for them through the mob during self-flagellation (Matam) and even overcoming a suspected suicide bomber.
Failure to apprehend a suicide bomber may result in a loss of her life, but Salma Ali is steadfast. “It’s risky but I am not scared. I am on guard for the devotees of Imam Hussain,” she says proudly. “Serving and guarding them is an honourable job,” she believes.
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“It would be impossible to have disciplined Muharram processions without scouts,” says Sindh Boys Scouts Association (SBCA) Secretary, Lt Col. (retd) Muhammad Ali Shah. Besides 5,000 scouts of the SBCA, another 5,000 scouts of four districts including City Scouts District Karachi, Karachi Open Scouts District, Karachi Private Schools Scouts District and Ismaili District Boy Scouts Association are performing their duties during Muharram in Karachi, Shah told The News.
Maybe I should share this article with my guys when they grumble a bit about having to rake up the leaves at the church.
- Pakistan Looks to Boy Scouts For Future
- World Scouting Helps Quake Victims in Kashmir
- New Girl Scout Patch Gets Federal Support
- Popcorn, Cookies, and Soccer Uniforms
- Hezbollah Boy Scouts
