ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s major opposition parties on Saturday chose Jamiat Ulema-e Islam (F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman as the head of its newly formed, anti-government alliance, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
The virtual meeting was attended by leaders from various political parties, including the former prime minister and head of Pakistan Muslim League (N), Nawaz Sharif, and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, among others.
It follows the establishment of the PDM on Sept. 20, with the opposition parties agreeing to launch a nationwide protest to remove the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) administration from power.
Last week, the PDM said it would hold its first public rally in Quetta on Oct. 11, with the PDM’s steering committee to meet on Monday to consolidate the alliance’s future political strategy.
On Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked PTI leaders to respond to the opposition’s call for protests and instructed them to devise a legal strategy to bring Sharif back from the UK where he has been seeking medical treatment since November last year.
Fazlur Rehman to head newly formed anti-government alliance in Pakistan
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Fazlur Rehman to head newly formed anti-government alliance in Pakistan
- He will lead Pakistan Democratic Movement’s first protest in Quetta on Oct. 11
- PM Khan asks party leaders to respond to opposition’s plans; bring former premier Sharif back from UK
Pakistan to begin first phase of Hajj 2026 trainings from today
- Training programs to be held in phases across Pakistan till February, says religion ministry
- Saudi Arabia allocated Pakistan a total quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has said that it will begin the first phase of mandatory Hajj 2026 training for pilgrims intending to perform the pilgrimage from today, Thursday.
The one-day Hajj training programs will be held in phases across the country at the tehsil level until February. The ministry directed intending pilgrims to bring their original identity cards and the computerized receipt of their Hajj application to attend the training sessions.
“Pilgrims should attend the one-day training program according to their scheduled date,” Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) said in a statement.
The ministry said training schedules are being shared through the government’s Pak Hajj 2026 mobile application as well as via SMS. It added that details of the schedule are also available on its website.
According to the ministry, training programs will be held in Abbottabad on Jan. 2; Ghotki, Thatta and Kotli on Jan. 3; and Tando Muhammad Khan and Khairpur on Jan. 4.
Hajj training sessions will be held in Rawalakot, Badin and Naushahro Feroze on Jan. 5, while pilgrims in Fateh Jang, Dadu and Tharparkar will receive the training on Jan. 6.
The ministry said training programs will be conducted in Umerkot and Larkana on Jan. 7, followed by sessions in Mirpurkhas, Shahdadkot and Mansehra on Jan. 8.
Pakistan’s religious affairs ministry has previously said these trainings will be conducted by experienced trainers and scholars using multimedia.
It said the training has been made mandatory to ensure that intending pilgrims are fully aware of Hajj rituals and administrative procedures.
Saudi Arabia has allocated Pakistan a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Hajj 2026, of which around 118,000 seats have been reserved under the government scheme, while the remainder will be allocated to private tour operators.
Under Pakistan’s Hajj scheme, the estimated cost of the government package ranges from Rs1,150,000 to Rs1,250,000 ($4,049.93 to $4,236), subject to final agreements with service providers.
