Hazrat Makhdom Syed Chan Pir Qadri, who claims himself to be the “Gaddi-Nashin” of Hazrat Sai Mian Mir, today claimed that the artifacts in his possession were gifted to his forefathers by the Sikh Gurus and not “bogus” as claimed by Justice Mohammad Akram Bittu, a retired judge, Lahore High Court, and Chairman, Aukaf Board, Pakistan.

Taking serious note of the allegations levelled by Justice Bittu, Syed Qadri said he (Justice Bittu) should read the Sikh history first before uttering any word on Sai Mian Mir. He alleged that Justice Bittu was a government nominee and knew nothing about the pious relationship between Sai Mian Mir and Sikh Gurus.

He expressed surprise on extending support to Mr Harbhajan Singh Brar, president of the Sai Mian Mir Foundation, Indian chapter, who had organised the three-day mela in the memory of Sai Mian Mir. He alleged that there was something fishy, “since the Government of Pakistan wanted to promote Mr Brar at his (Syed Qadri’s) cost”. He claimed that he would give documentary proof to establish that Mr Brar had been “exploiting the name of Sai Mian Mir for vested interests”.

Syed Qadri agreed that Sai Mian Mir was not a married man. However, he said that he was the 19th direct descendant of Hazrat Khawaza Abu Syed Masoom, “Gaddi Nashin” of Sai Mian Mir. Born on March 13, 1953, Syed Qadri became the founder-chairman of the Sai Mian Mir Foundation of Pakistan in 2004.

He said he was the direct descendant of Sai Makhdom Abu Syed Fateh Ullah Masoom, who had come to Lahore where Sai Hazrat Mian Mir Sahib granted him the first-ever deputyship (a caliph), which further trickled down to him (Syed Chan Pir Qadri, the last descendant and “Gaddi Nashin” of Durbar Hazrat Mian Mir Sahib, Lahore, Pakistan.