Dola Shah Ka Chooha

Location: Aabpara Sunday Market, Islamabad, Pakistan

It is said that Shah Dola of Gujrat, A saint of Suhrawardi School of thought during the time of King Aurangzeb ,had the power to punish disobedient parents, by having their children born with small heads. These children served in his shrine and were called “Dolay Shah kay Chohey” or “Mice of Dolay Shah” or “Rats of Dolay Shah”. (In Urdu the word for Rat and Mouse is the same)

Hundred of thousands of people, specially infertile women, come to saint to get his blssing for the fulfilment of their wishes. In return for fullfillment of the blessing, They have to donate the first born child to work as a servent in Shrine. It is said in the shrine they put an “iron cap” on the head of that baby to stop the growth of his head, and later call it “Mouse of Dolay Shah”.

According to old tradition, incapable women who worship at shrine of Saint Dolay Shah, will become fertile. But unless they donate their first born to shrine as a servent, all their babies will born disabled.

This shrine is not under the control of Govt of Pakistan. There may be almost 10,000 of these “Rats of Dolay Shah”, mostly in Punjab and specially in the city of Gujrat.

An horrific example of human rights violation in the name of religion on silly people who leave their kids in the premises tomb to fulfil their own wishes.