Government not to rest till return of Pakistani pilgrims, says Pervaiz Rasheed
Islamabad, Pakistan: Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Senator Pervaiz Rashid has said that the government will not rest till the safe return of all Pakistani pilgrims to their homes.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, the minister was of the view that the dozens of missing Hujjaj have been traced so far while the remaining pilgrims would be found very soon.
He said that the problems in ascertaining the whereabouts of missing Hujjaj occurred as pilgrims lost their mobile phones in the tragic mishaps while others shifted to their relatives.
The minister said that the Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony and Pakistan Embassy in Saudi Arabia to give top priority to tracing all Pakistani pilgrims. Prime Minister Pakistan Mian Nawaz Sharif is in United States to attend session of United Nations but his office said that he has been receiving updates about situation on hourly basis. It may be mentioned that already three days have passed but no clear information about missing Pakistanis are coming.
It may be mentioned that over 300 Pakistani Hujjaj are missing till tragic incident of stampede in Mina during Hajj. UK-based newspaper Guardian claims that 264 Pakistani have lost their lives in the incident while Pakistan government said that only 23 were shaheed while 300 are missing.
Embassy of Pakistan in Saudi Arabia is providing information to media but its website is not providing information to people about their relatives. Pakistan Foreign office claimed that only 11 were dead like Ministry of Religious Affairs said 21 were dead. Different figures are coming from different government sources and the whole issue is showing chaotic situation and lack of communication among different departments. Guardian has not withdrawn its story about nationalities of dead in Mina incident.
