ISLAMABAD: Pakistani officials have expressed their support of Saudi Arabia’s decision to restrict this year’s Hajj pilgrimage over public health concerns as the coronavirus is still raging across the globe.
On Saturday, Saudi health authorities announced the kingdom had restricted the pilgrimage to 60,000 citizens and residents for the second year amid the pandemic.
Only people aged between 18 and 65 who have been vaccinated against the virus, and are free of chronic diseases, will be able to take part in the Muslim pilgrimage to Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
“An appropriate and correct decision has been made, the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia have always served the pilgrims. Shariah also allows to make such decisions in an emergency situation,” Tahir Ashrafi, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s special adviser on religious harmony and the Middle East, told Arab News on Sunday.
He added the kingdom’s decision to hold this year’s Hajj amid strict COVID-19 health protocols was to “ensure the safety of pilgrims.”
On Saturday, following Saudi Arabia’s announcement, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a phone conversation with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud.
“The Saudi Foreign Minister apprised Foreign Minister Qureshi about the challenges of organizing Hajj in 2021 and the policy measures taken by the kingdom in the larger interest of public health,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
“Minister Qureshi conveyed his understanding of the situation and expressed confidence in the decisions taken in public interest by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.”
Before the pandemic enforced social distancing globally, some 2.5 million pilgrims used to visit the holiest sites of Islam in Makkah and Medina for the week-long Hajj and the lesser, year-round Umrah pilgrimage.
Pakistan says supports Saudi Arabia's decision to restrict Hajj over coronavirus concerns
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Pakistan says supports Saudi Arabia's decision to restrict Hajj over coronavirus concerns
- Saudi Arabia has restricted this year's annual pilgrimage to 60,000 citizens and residents in the kingdom
- Pakistani officials say Saudi's decision taken "in public interest" and to ensure safety of pilgrims
Pakistan police say 3 ‘terrorists’ killed during security operation in northwest
- Security forces, police conduct joint operation in Domel, Asparka and Akbar Ali Khan areas, say police
- Police launch search operation in area for remaining “terrorists,” vow to maintain law and order
PESHAWAR: Police and security forces killed three “terrorists” during a joint security operation in the volatile northwestern Bannu district on Thursday, police said, vowing to maintain law and order in the area.
The security operation was conducted in Bannu district’s Akbar Ali Khan, Asparka and Domel areas.
“During the operation, three terrorists were killed while several others were injured,” the spokesperson for the Bannu regional police officer said in a statement.
He said a search operation is being carried out in the area to arrest the “terrorists” that had fled.
“The terrorists will be brought to justice, and the law and order situation will be maintained at all costs,” Deputy Inspector General Bannu Sajjad Khan said.
Bannu district in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province bordering Afghanistan has seen a surge in militant violence in recent months.
Police said on Monday it thwarted an ambush by the Pakistani Taliban and killed two militants during a fierce gunbattle in the district.
Four members of a pro-government peace committee were also killed by militants in Bannu district earlier this month.
In 2025, Bannu police said it recorded 134 attacks on police stations, checkpoints and those targeting its personnel. At least 27 police officers were killed, while authorities say 53 militants died in the clashes.
Pakistan blames the Afghan government for providing sanctuaries for Pakistani Taliban or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants that it alleges launch attacks against Islamabad from Afghan soil.
Afghanistan denies the allegations and urges Pakistan to resolve its security challenges without pointing fingers at Kabul.
