Zikri
Zikri is a small Islamic sect that is concentrated in Balochistan. There are about seven-hundred fifty thousand followers of the fiqa. The sect is based around the teachings of Imam Mehdi, a figure who lived in the 15th century. In religious practice, the Zikris differ greatly from mainstream Muslims. Zikris perform five times daily prayers (Zikr). They perform Ziarat of shrine Koh-e-Murad, which is located in the city of Turbat (Baluchistan), on the twenty seventh night of Ramadan. The name Zikri comes from the Arabic word zikr that refers to rememberence, usually of Allah. This is reflective of the Zikri worship centring on the recitation of Islamic credos. Most of Zikris live in Baluchistan, but a large number also live in Karachi, interior sindh and Iran. They tend to vote for secular parties in elections, and they constitute the majority religious group in the district of Gwadar. Zikris have faced persecution from other Muslims, but this usually occurs in areas where they are a minority such as Iran or the city of Karachi.
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