| Action taken after videos emerged of a group of people abusing a woman, her companions
in Prophet’s Mosque courtyard
MADINAH - The police in Madinah on Friday claimed to have arrested five Pakistanis for insulting and abusing a woman and her companions of Pakistani nationality also in the courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque. The Madinah Police spokesman said that they were referred to the competent authorities after legal procedures were completed against them.
He added that their actions contradict the sanctity of the place and impact the safety of visitors and worshipers. After Pakistan’s new Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, kicked off his first foreign visit to Saudi Arabia as the premier of the country, by visiting Madinah, videos emerged of a group of people chanting slogans against the Pakistani delegation while visiting the Prophet’s Mosque on late Thursday. Pakistan’s federal minister of Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb and member of the National Assembly Shahzain Bugti were seen in the video among others, escorted by security personals to enter the Prophet’s Mosque.
On the other hand, the Saudi Embassy officials in Islamabad said some Pakistani pilgrims who chanted slogans against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation at the Masjid-i-Nabvi in Madinah were arrested by police. Saudi Embassy in Islamabad also confirmed this saying that some of them were arrested for violating the regulations and disrespecting the holy places.
‘Sanctity of Haramain Sharifain’
Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Interfaith Harmony and Middle East Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Friday said there would be no compromise on the sanctity of Haramain Sharifain at all cost. Condemning the indecent behaviour of Pakistani expatriates affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in a video message, Ashrafi who is also the chairman of Pakistan Ulema Council said the way Masjid-e-Nabvi’s privilege was breached, it was not happened in the Islamic history of 100 years.
He said the most pitiable thing was that those who were ignited to create the mess in Masjid-e-Nabvi either they labourers or pilgrims from Pakistan. The Saudi government was taking action against those allegedly involved in this disgraceful incident as per law of the land, he added.
He also proposed the Pakistan’s state machinery to take action against the masterminds who were behind all this fuss in the Haramain Sharifain. Appealing the Ulema and Mashaykh to protest against this un-Islamic and inhuman act, he said after returning from Saudi Arabia, the PUC along with it allied partners would draw a line of action to meet this issue of political intolerance.
