| Saudi Arabia’s Embassy confirms arrest of sloganeers | Will request Saudi authorities for action, says Interior Minister
By Anzal Amin
ISLAMABAD: Some Pakistani pilgrims who hounded and chanted slogans against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation at the Masjid-i-Nabwi in Madina have been arrested by Saudi authorities, the media director of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad confirmed on Friday.
The official said that the protesters have been taken into custody for “violating the regulations” and “disrespecting” the sanctity of the holy mosque. PM Shehbaz is in Saudi Arabia on a three-day visit, along with a delegation including Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Miftah Ismail, Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Khawaja Asif, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Mohsin Dawar and Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, among others.
After arriving in Madina Thursday, they headed to the Prophet’s Mosque to offer prayers.
However, unfortunate scenes were witnessed at the holy mosque when the premier and his entourage arrived there.
According to videos circulating on social media, Pakistani pilgrims at the mosque started chanting slogans of “chor” (thieves) as soon as they saw the prime minister.
In another video, the pilgrims could be seen heckling and chanting abusive slogans against federal ministers Marriyum Aurangzeb and Shahzain Bugti, as the pair are escorted by Saudi guards. A pilgrim can also seen pulling Bugti’s hair from behind.
Later, in a video message in response to the chants, Aurangzeb had said that the act was perpetrated by a “select group”, while most Pakistanis respected the sanctity of the holy mosque. “I don’t want to name the person responsible for this incident because I don’t want to use this holy land for political purposes.”
She also said she had prayed for guidance for such people. “However, it will take time for us to fix the ways in which these people have damaged our society and we can only do that through a positive attitude,” the minister had added.
Politicians and other religious figures condemned the incident on Twitter and some blamed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.
Meanwhile, at a press conference earlier Friday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said his ministry would request the Saudi Arabia government to take “appropriate action” against the Pakistani pilgrims.
“My ministry will make a humble request to the Saudi government to take appropriate action on this matter. We are going to convey the pain the nation felt at these incidents in Masjid-i-Nabwi,” he said.
The Saudi authorities, Sanaullah said, would be requested to identify those involved in the incidents through CCTV footage so they could be sent back to Pakistan, adding that they were “not worthy of living on that sacred land”.
He warned the nation had been troubled and pained which could lead to unrest. “There can be unrest in the country which is why we have asked the law ministry whether we can register a case here and proceed against these people.”
The minister also advised those instigating such incidents to stay within limits, cautioning, “If you create this kind of environment, you will have to face it too.
“You have tested our courage for four years and you should compete in accordance with the Constitution, the law and democratic norms. Whatever objection you have, make it known but don’t cross these limits,” he added.
