J&K shrine fire: Pakistan demands independent probe

Islamabad: Pakistan on Wednesday expressed shock at the damage caused by a fire to the shrine of Dastageer Sahab in Jammu and Kashmir and called for an "independent investigation" to determine the cause of the incident.

Expressing "shock and grief over the serious damage caused by a fire to the historic shrine of Dastageer Sahab", Foreign Office spokesman Moazzam Khan said Pakistan hoped that "every effort will be made to preserve the revered shrine".

Pakistan also hoped that "an independent investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of destruction", Khan said in a statement.

Pakistan on Wednesday expressed shock at the damage caused by a fire to the shrine of Dastageer Sahab.

The revered 200-year-old shrine of Dastageer Sahib in the old city of Srinagar was destroyed on Monday in a devastating fire.

The relics of the 11th century Muslim preacher, known as Ghaus-ul-Azam among the locals and revered worldwide, were however safe as these were retrieved from the fire-proof vault of the wooden shrine which was reduced to ashes. The relics contained a strand of hair from his beard and a skull cap.

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