Denying Shia pilgrims’ entry into Balochistan condemned

Shia Ulema Council vice president and Incharge of SUC’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs Allama Mazhar Abbas Alvi has condemned the biased policy of the government and law enforcement agencies under which Shia pilgrims belonging to Bhakkar and Mianwali were not allowed to proceed to Iran via Balochistan province.

Allama Alvi said that Balochistan police stopped 5 buses carrying Shia pilgrims from Bhakkar and Mianwali in Zhob district on the pretext that they don’t have NOC from relevant authorities. The SUC leader made it clear that Shia Muslims of Pakistan don’t need any NOC to travel in any part of their motherland Pakistan. He said that denying travelling right to Shia Muslims is an immoral, illegal and unconstitutional act of Balochistan government and police.
He said that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had already issued directives regarding Shia pilgrims but his orders were not being followed.
Shia scholar requested the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu action against the biased officials of the government and police. He said that Taftan border with Iran is a the cheapest land route for Pakistanis to enter Iran where 8th infallible Imam Ali Reza’s holy shrine and sacred shrines of other Imam Zadegan, the holy shrine of Prophet Daniyal are the places of pilgrimage. Iran also connects Pakistan with Iraq that is house of sacred shrines of many infallibles.