Ban on pilgrims is regrettable, should be reviewed immediately: Shabbir Sajidi

Shiite News: Provincial General Secretary of Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shabbir Sajidi, expressed deep concern over the ban on pilgrims traveling from Pakistan to Iran and Iraq via land route on the occasion of Arbaeen-e-Hussaini, terming this government move as regrettable and contrary to public sentiments.

He said that every year millions of lovers of Imam Hussain (AS) head to Karbala to participate in Arbaeen with sincere passion and fervor of faith, and the land route is not only more convenient for them but also the only possible way for the low-income classes. In such a situation, this decision of the government has come as a serious obstacle for the deprived classes.

Shabbir Sajidi said that if there are security concerns on the routes of Balochistan, it is the responsibility of the state institutions to establish law and order, and not to shirk their responsibility by closing the routes.

He demanded that Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Prime Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif immediately restore the land routes for Arbaeen pilgrims and make security effective on all routes, including Balochistan, so that the pilgrims can perform their religious rituals with dignity and safety.

He said that there is great anxiety among the Jafariya community on this issue, and the government should show seriousness, respect the feelings of the pilgrims and immediately reconsider this decision.