LAHORE: Pakistani film and television actor, Hamza Ali Abbasi, applauded Saudi authorities for their flawless management of Hajj pilgrimage involving more than two million people.
Abbasi, who is currently in Saudi Arabia to perform the annual Muslim ritual, said in a video released by the Kingdom’s Center for International Communication on Monday that he was stunned by the sheer magnitude of the event.
“You can’t help but imagine what kind of logistical nightmare it would be,” he smiled, “but it goes very smoothly … It goes so seamlessly that you don’t realize what kind of a mammoth effort goes behind it.”
Abbasi noted that he was pleasantly surprised by the degree of “inclusiveness” during Hajj, adding that he had seen “people from literally every country on the face of this planet, united under this one creed that there is only one God.”
The Pakistani actor is not just a known face in his own country but has also developed significant fan following in the Kingdom after his film “Parwaaz Hai Junoon” was commercially released in Saudi Arabia last year. Spotting him in the crowd in his bright white ihram, many fellow pilgrims requested to take pictures with him.
Abbasi is also among the 200,000 Pakistani pilgrims who decided to undertake their spiritual journey to Islam’s holiest cities of Makkah and Madinah this year. In the video, he urged Muslims everywhere to at least “come here once.”
“You cannot begin to imagine the [spiritual] experience,” he said. “You have to be here in personal to experience each and every bit of [this journey].”
Pakistan’s Hamza Ali Abbasi praises Saudi Arabia for smooth management of Hajj
Pakistan’s Hamza Ali Abbasi praises Saudi Arabia for smooth management of Hajj
- Currently in the Kingdom to perform his pilgrimage, Abbasi says he is stunned by the scale of the religious ritual
- In a video released by the Saudi Center for International Communication, he urges all Muslims to undertake the spiritual journey at least once
Daesh media chief for ISKP in Pakistan’s custody — state media
- Sultan Aziz Azzam, a senior member of ISKP, used to head its Al Azzam media outlet, says state media
- Azzam was arrested in May while attempting to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan, says state media
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani authorities have taken into custody Sultan Aziz Azzam, the head of Daesh regional affiliate ISKP’s media outlet, state media reported on Thursday citing intelligence sources.
The state-run Pakistan TV Digital reported that Azzam was a senior member of ISKP and hailed from Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province. As per the state media report, he is also a graduate of the University of Nangarhar where he studied Islamic jurisprudence.
Pakistan TV Digital reported Azzam joined ISKP in 2016 and later became a prominent member of its leadership council.
“He was arrested in May 2025 while attempting to cross from Afghanistan into Pakistan,” Pakistan TV Digital reported, citing intelligence sources.
“He is believed to have overseen media operations and headed ISKP’s Al Azzam media outlet.”
In November 2021, Washington listed Azzam as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” (SDGT). The move bars American citizens from engaging in transactions with persons designated as SDGTs.
According to a report on the UN Security Council’s website, Azzam has played an “instrumental role” in spreading Daesh’s violent ideology, glorifying and justifying “terrorist acts.”
“Building on his former experience as an Afghan journalist, his activity as ISIL-K’s spokesperson has increased ISIL-K’s visibility and influence among its followers,” the report states.
The report further states Azzam claimed responsibility on behalf of Daesh for the suicide attack near Hamid Karzai International Airport on Aug. 26, 2021, which killed at least 170 Afghans and 13 US service members and injured 150 more.
The development takes place amid tense relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Islamabad alleging militants use Afghan soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations.
Tensions surged in October when Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in fierce border clashes, claiming to have killed dozens of soldiers of the other side.
Pakistan has urged the Afghan Taliban-led government to take “decisive action” against militants it says operate from its soil. Afghanistan says it cannot be held responsible for Pakistan’s security challenges.
