ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has denied media reports regarding the disappearance of 50,000 Pakistani Zaireen (pilgrims).
Last month, media outlets including ‘The News’ and ‘The Nation’ reported that the Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain disclosed before the Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs that 50,000 Pakistani Zaireen had disappeared in Iraq while visiting the Country.
In a statement on Saturday, the religious affairs ministry said that a certain section of the media has carried a news story recently alleging Salik Hussain made a statement in a Senate Committee meeting about the disappearance of 50,000 (Zaireen) Pakistanis in Iraq during pilgrimage is “entirely false and misleading”.
The minister underscored that the federal minister never gave any such statement.
Clarification/ Rebuttal:
Federal Minister never made statement on pakistani pilgrims’ disappearances in Iraq. It is clarified that intending pilgrims organize their travel to Iraq for ziarat through private operators. Efforts are underway to improve the process of facilitation. pic.twitter.com/yVpk1juA0C— Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony (@MORAisbOfficial) August 10, 2024
Moreover, it is clarified that the intending pilgrims organize their travel to Iraq for ziarat through private operators, the ministry said adding that efforts are underway to improve the process of facilitation.
