ISLAMABAD: People of the twin cities are bearing the brunt of the anti-government protest as the federation has placed Islamabad under a lockdown, partially blocking cellular services, forcing educational institutes and business to temporarily shut down as the Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F), led Azadi March descends adamant to topple Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.
Taking preventive measures, the government has blocked key routes to sensitive government installations placing shipping containers across the city, increasing security, disrupting the lives of residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
The march echoes the 2014 four-month long “Tsunami March” by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf against the then Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government accusing Nawaz Sharif’s political party of syphoning public funds and mass corruption.
Arab News took to the streets of the peaceful serene capital turned into a container city — a name coined by Pakistanis to observe the difficulties faced by the common man and commuters. More in this video report.
Islamabad shell shocked as Azadi March descends on the capital
Islamabad shell shocked as Azadi March descends on the capital
- Government blocks key routes to sensitive installations placing shipping containers across the city
- Firebrand religious-politico leader rallies thousands to Islamabad adamant to topple the government
Minister says Pakistan’s Hajj 2026 policy ‘effective,’ in line with Saudi guidelines
- A large portion of the Pakistan’s private Hajj quota for 2025 remained unutilized due to delays by tour operators
- While the government fulfilled its full allocation, private operators attributed the shortfall to technical issues
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has said the government formulated an “effective” Hajj Policy 2026 that is in accordance with guidelines issued by Saudi Arabia.
Pakistan approved the Hajj 2026 policy in July, under which the country has a quota of 179,210 pilgrims. Of which, around 120,000 seats have been allocated for the government scheme and the rest for private tour operators.
The government ensured digitization of Hajj services, electronic monitoring and complaint system, long and short duration Hajj packages, and prioritizing those who could not perform the pilgrimage under the private scheme last year.
Speaking to the state-run Radio Pakistan broadcaster, Yousaf said that the government is trying to expand the “Route to Makkah” facility to Lahore. The initiative allows pilgrims to complete travel formalities at their departure airports.
“Training for the 2026 Hajj is currently underway across the country, with mandatory sessions being conducted in various districts,” the minister was quoted as saying.
A large portion of the Pakistan’s private Hajj quota for 2025 remained unutilized due to delays by tour operators in meeting payment and registration deadlines, while the government fulfilled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims.
Private operators had attributed the shortfall to technical issues, including payment processing problems and communication breakdowns.
Pakistan this month also requested Saudi Arabia to increase its Hajj quota in proportion to the country’s population of 240 million, Radio Pakistan reported.
“Pakistan has formally requested the Saudi government to increase its Hajj quota to 230,000, in proportion to the country’s population, to allow more people to undertake the pilgrimage,” Yousaf was quoted as saying.
