Islamabad (Web Desk): Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) leader Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas has announced a nationwide protest against the ban on land routes for Arbaeen pilgrimage.
Speaking at a press conference, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas stated that "we reject any unconstitutional, unlawful, or immoral action," emphasizing that imposing restrictions on religious freedom violates Article 20 of the Constitution.
He further called for an apology from the Ministry of Religious Affairs for its statement regarding the missing pilgrims. He pointed out that no consultations had been held with relevant stakeholders before imposing the ban, even though pilgrims had invested Rs 50 billion in tickets, hotels, and visas.
Allama Raja Nasir Abbas declared that MWM will hold sit-ins and peaceful protests across the country, from Gilgit-Baltistan to Karachi. He stressed that it is the government's responsibility to protect the constitutional and religious rights of its citizens.
The MWM leader also raised concerns about the actions of the Interior Minister, who had visited Iran to discuss measures to serve pilgrims with Iranian and Iraqi ministers. However, shortly after the meetings, it was revealed that pilgrims would not be allowed to travel via land routes. He questioned, "Did the government only now realize that land routes are a security risk?"
Allama Raja Nasir Abbas recalled that due to the government's incompetence, 67,000 Pakistani citizens were deprived of performing Hajj. "The Constitution guarantees religious freedom, and the government is depriving us of our constitutional and religious rights by blocking the land routes," he said.
He concluded by demanding that if the government is closing the land route, it should provide an alternative. "The government's primary responsibility is to protect the lives and property of its citizens," he added.