ISLAMABAD: A group of pilgrims from Pakistan, who chanted unwelcoming slogans against the delegation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, in Madina was arrested on Friday, the nation’s embassy in Islamabad confirmed.
The embassy said that the protesters were taken into custody for “violating the regulations” and “disrespecting” the sanctity of Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH).
A Saudi publication further confirmed that at least five Pakistani nationals were arrested.
Demonstrations are illegal in Saudi Arabia but videos emerging on social media platforms showed the crowd around the delegation, shouting “chor, chor (thief)”.
— Asad Kharal (@AsadKharal) April 28, 2022
The video is said to have emerged from the Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH) in Madina on Thursday. The clip showed hundreds of pilgrims raising the slogan as the delegation made its way to the mosque, escorted by security personnel.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb and Jamhoori Wattan Party (JWP) chief Shahzain Bugti were seen in the video, among others.
In a separate video, Aurangzeb blamed former prime minister Imran Khan for the protest. “I will not name this person on this holy land because I do not want to use this land for politics. But they have destroyed the (Pakistani) society,” the minister claimed.
میں اس شخص کا نام اس پاک زمین پہ نہیں لونگی کیونکہ اس زمین کو سیاست کیلیےاستعمال نہیں کرنا چاہتی.لیکن انہوں نے جو معاشرےمیں تباہی کی.انہیں ٹھیک کرنےمیں بھی وقت لگےگا اور یہ بھی ہمارے مثبت رویوں سےٹھیک ہوگا.
ہم نے اپنےکارکنان کو ہدایت جاری کی ہیں کہ اپنےجذبات کو کنٹرول میں رکھیں pic.twitter.com/nfUxeeq1US— PML(N) (@pmln_org) April 28, 2022
She further said that she regretted there was a section of society, which was maintaining such hateful traditions.
Several politicians and religious figures condemned the incident on Twitter and some blamed the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.
On the other hand, PTI leader and former human rights minister Shireen Mazari tweeted: “Imported govt of criminals brought in by US regime change conspiracy met by chants of ‘thieves’ in Madina Sharif.
Imported govt of criminals brought in by US regime change conspiracy met by chants of “thieves” in Madina Sharif.I deleted video tweeted earlier bec heard some abusive words, esp inappropriate in a place of worship.This criminal gang will be shamed by Pakistanis wherever they go
— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) April 28, 2022
“I deleted the video tweeted earlier because I heard some abusive words, especially inappropriate in a place of worship. This criminal gang will be shamed by Pakistanis wherever they go.”
Mazari slammed the government by saying: “For the record, the people showing their anger in Madina Sharif and other parts of the world are Pakistanis angry that a US regime change conspiracy targeted a democratically elected Pak PM aided by segments of media & powerful local abettors to thrust criminals back into power!”
The former minister also tweeted that not all members who protested at the mosque belonged to the PTI, and these were Pakistan nationals who had seen the country plundered by these looters (in reference to Sharif’s cabinet).
During the visit, Sharif is set to seek an additional package of $3.2 billion from Saudi Arabia. He will pose this request to avert further depletion of foreign currency reserves.
Saudi Arabia had already given $3 billion in deposits to Pakistan and an oil facility on deferred payment worth $1.2 billion during Imran Khan’s tenure.
Meanwhile, at a press conference, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said his ministry would request the Saudi Arabia government to take “appropriate action” against the Pakistani pilgrims.
“My ministry will make a humble request to the Saudi government to take appropriate action on this matter. We are going to convey the pain the nation felt at these incidents in Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH),” he said.
