Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday announced that the government will request Saudi Arabia’s authorities to take appropriate action against those who instigated the use of indecent language and behaviour within the premises of Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH) in Madina.
Referring to the heckling and abuse faced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers and parliamentarians on Thursday, the minister stated that the act hurt the sentiments of the Muslim Ummah and was condemnable.
Addressing a joint news conference along with Adviser to PM on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira, Sanaullah said the Saudi government will be requested to provide Pakistan with identification of the culprits involved in the “shameful act” for action against them. The advice of the law ministry will also be sought to proceed against such elements.
“Such elements should be deported as they must not be permitted to stay anymore on the holy land,” said the interior minister.
Rana Sanaullah also accused former prime minister Imran Khan and former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed for pre-planning the act.
“Imran Khan Niazi should refrain from spreading anarchy and hatred in the country only to achieve his political objectives,” Sanaullah said, adding that the former premier was targeting state institutions for the same resolve.
“Imran Khan will have to answer the people for his bad governance during the last four years,” he said.
Qamar Zaman Kaira, in his remarks, also strongly condemned the act by a handful of elements at the sacred site for Muslims.
The adviser said that Imran Khan must shun the practice of spreading hatred and creating divisions in society for personal interests.
Kaira criticised the former PM, stating that he was doing the “politics of fascism with the belief that only he and his party have the right to live in this country,” adding that no one would be permitted to target the institutions.
According to reports, those involved in the incident have been arrested.
Mian Dawood claimed that the Saudi government has decided to impose a fine of 60,000 Saudi Riyals, five years imprisonment and a life ban on those involved in the incident.
Meanwhile, others claimed that up to 150 people have been taken into custody.
