ISLAMABAD: Tens of thousands of people gathered near a prominent national monument in Lahore on Saturday to offer the funeral prayers of the founding leader of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), Khadim Hussain Rizvi, who died at the age of 54 on Thursday.
Rizvi’s son, Saad Rizvi, has been appointed new leader of the group.
Rizvi’s last political activity was to lead an anti-France demonstration on the outskirts of Islamabad to protest the publication of caricatures disparaging Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The cause of his death could not be determined, though it was claimed that he was suffering from high fever and experienced breathing difficulties before his death.
Most people who participated in his funeral were not wearing face masks, though the country has been swept by a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic and most cities have made it mandatory for their residents to take precautionary measures at public places.
The TLP party emerged after Mumtaz Qadri, a police commando, assassinated Punjab governor Salman Taseer in Jan. 2011 for defending a Pakistani Christian woman sentenced to death for committing blasphemy.
Rizvi and his associates launched a campaign for Qadri’s release, saying he had acted to protect the honor of the Prophet (pbuh).
Anti-blasphemy protests organized by TLP in 2017 paralyzed Islamabad for several weeks, and were only dispersed after a military-brokered deal. Rizvi and his party also held nationwide protests against Bibi’s acquittal in Oct. 2018.
Pakistan’s mainstream media usually avoid covering TLP protests, but the group reached the masses through social media.
A controversial preacher who used strong language to revile his critics, Rizvi was accused of weaponizing the issue of blasphemy in a country where religious sensitivities usually run high.
His recent demonstration forced the government to consider the possibility of expelling the French ambassador after taking up the issue in parliament.
Tens of thousands attend funeral of hardline Pakistani cleric in Lahore
https://arab.news/wzdhn
Tens of thousands attend funeral of hardline Pakistani cleric in Lahore
- Rizvi’s son, Saad Rizvi, has been appointed the next leader of the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan
- The cleric's critics accuse him of weaponizing the issue of blasphemy in a country where religious sensitivities usually run high
Pakistan tightens private Hajj scheme for 2026 after thousands miss pilgrimage
- Saudi Arabia awarded Pakistan ‘Excellence Award’ for overall Hajj 2025 arrangements
- The government says it refunded $12.5 million to pilgrims who went to Hajj last year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Wednesday it had tightened regulations for private Hajj operators for the 2026 pilgrimage after thousands of pilgrims were unable to travel last year, as the government moved to curb mismanagement and ensure refunds for affected applicants.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousuf told the media in Islamabad that the private Hajj quota had been reduced and an investigation carried out on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s instructions.
The announcement came even as Pakistan received Saudi Arabia’s “Excellence Award” for its overall arrangements during Hajj 2025, while authorities said they had refunded Rs 3.5 billion ($12.5 million) to pilgrims who performed Hajj in 2025.
“Last year, 60,000 pilgrims were unable to perform Hajj under the private Hajj scheme, prompting the Prime Minister to order inquiries,” Yousuf said. “Consequently, the private Hajj quota has been reduced this year.”
He said private operators had been directed to prioritize pilgrims who were left behind last year and had yet to receive refunds, adding that full refunds would also be ensured for pilgrims unable to travel on medical grounds or under the hardship quota.
Yousuf said the government had expanded the “Pak Hajj App” and extended Saudi Arabia’s Makkah Route Initiative to Karachi to reduce travel and immigration difficulties for pilgrims.
He added that new regulations for Umrah and religious travel were being finalized to protect pilgrims from exploitation by private operators and to fully digitize the system.
The minister also said women who were confident of performing Hajj and Umrah without a male guardian could do so, with separate groups now being formed, while certificates would be mandatory for women traveling alone.
Responding to another question, Yousuf said no member of parliament or standing committee was being provided free Hajj or Umrah by the ministry, adding that all officials would bear their own expenses.
