ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines on Friday announced special flights to Iraq and Syria to facilitate people planning to visit the two Arab countries for the religious observance of Arba'een.
The occasion marks the fortieth day after the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), who lost his life on 10th Muharram during the Battle of Karbala in 61 AH (680 CE).
The Pakistani airline will operate several flights to Baghdad, Najaf and Damascus between September 17 and 24.
"PIA always launches special flights on significant religious occasions to facilitate pilgrims," it said in an official statement. "The national airline has always been in the forefront of transporting these people to sacred places."
The special flights will depart from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.
Last month, Pakistan discussed ways to facilitate pilgrims to Iraq during the visit of Iraqi foreign minister Dr. Fuad Hussein to Islamabad.
Iraqi and Syrian cities of Najaf, Karabala and Damascus hold tremendous significance for Shiites around the world, many of whom travel to these places during the first two months of the lunar Islamic calendar to recall the sacrifices made by the small army led by Husayn ibn Ali.
Pakistan to launch special flights for pilgrims to Iraq, Syria
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Pakistan to launch special flights for pilgrims to Iraq, Syria
- The country's national airline says it will operate several flights to Baghdad, Najaf and Damascus between September 17 and 24
- Last month, Pakistan and Iraq discussed ways to facilitate people who wanted to visit the holy shrines in the Arab state
Pakistan opposition rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to demand release of Imran Khan
- PTI-led gathering calls the former PM a national hero and demands the release of all political prisoners
- Government says the opposition failed to draw a large crowd and accuses PTI of damaging its own politics
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party demanded the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan at a rally in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, describing him as a national hero who continues to command public support.
The gathering came days after a rare and strongly worded briefing by the military’s media chief, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who dismissed Khan as “narcissistic” and “mentally ill” on Friday while responding to the former premier’s allegations that Pakistan’s chief of defense forces was responsible for undermining the constitution and rule of law.
He said that Khan was promoting an anti-state narrative which had become a national security threat.
The participants of the rally called for “civilian supremacy” and said elected representatives should be treated with respect.
“We, the people of Pakistan, regard Imran Khan as a national hero and the country’s genuinely elected prime minister, chosen by the public in the February 8, 2024 vote,” said a resolution presented at the rally in Peshawar. “We categorically reject and strongly condemn the notion that he or his colleagues pose any kind of threat to national security.”
“We demand immediate justice for Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi and all political prisoners, and call for their prompt release,” it added, referring to Khan’s wife who is also in prison. “No restrictions should be placed on Imran Khan’s meetings with his family, lawyers or political associates.”
Addressing the gathering, Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, denied his administration was not serious about security issues amid increased militant activity. However, he maintained the people of his province had endured the worst of Pakistan’s conflict with militancy and urged a rethinking of long-running security policies.
The resolution asked the federal government to restore bilateral trade and diplomatic channels with Afghanistan, saying improved cross-border ties were essential for the economic stability of the region.
The trade between the two neighbors has suffered as Pakistan accuses the Taliban administration in Kabul of sheltering and facilitating armed groups that it says launch cross-border attacks to target its civilians and security forces. Afghan officials deny the claim.
The two countries have also had deadly border clashes in recent months that have killed dozens of people on both sides.
Some participants of the rally emphasized the restoration of democratic freedoms, judicial independence and space for political reconciliation, calling them necessary to stabilize the country after years of political confrontation.
Reacting to the opposition rally, Information Minister Attaullah Tarrar said the PTI and its allies could not gather enough people.
“In trying to build an anti-army narrative, they have ruined their own politics,” he said, adding that the rally’s reaction to the military’s media chief’s statement reflected “how deeply it had stung.”
“There was neither any argument nor any real response,” he added, referring to what was said by the participants of the rally.
