MADINAH/KARACHI: At least five Pakistani nationals were detained at the Masjid-e-Nabawi (PBUH) in Madinah for “abusing and insulting” Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Minister for Narcotics Control Shahzain Bugti, according to the Saudi magazine Saudi Gazette.
According to the magazine, the suspects have been “submitted to the appropriate authorities once legal proceedings against them have been concluded,” according to a Madinah Police official.
“Their acts are in violation of the site’s sacredness and jeopardise the safety of tourists and worshipers,” the official stated.
On Thursday, several protestors purportedly affiliated with the PTI desecrated the sanctity of the Masjid-e-Nabawi (PBUH) in Madinah by shouting slogans against members of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s delegation.
Earlier today, the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Islamabad’s Director of Information acknowledged that certain Pakistani citizens had been arrested for breaking the Masjid-e-sanctity, Nabawi’s and that an inquiry had been begun into the matter.
The individuals were arrested after they broke the mosque’s norms, according to the official.
The number of those arrested was not confirmed by the Saudi authorities at the time.
The incident
PM Shehbaz and his party arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday on the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz for a three-day formal visit.
The prime minister is accompanied on his visit by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Shahzain Bugti, Mohsin Dawar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi, Chaudhry Salik, and four members of PM Shehbaz Sharif’s staff.
When Marriyum Aurangzeb and Shahzain Bugti arrived at the mosque, however, demonstrators began screaming “chor, chor (thieves)” and harassed them, as well as raising offensive slogans.
The demonstrators had also yanked Shahzain Bugti’s hair and misbehaved with him.
The demonstrators proceeded to video the entire incident on their cellphones.
“I respect Makkah and Medinah a lot,” Bugti said of the event. “No one can talk in a loud voice there.” Those who have made disparaging words about Marriyum are still here, thus the story of their arrest is false.”
“I don’t want to name the individual responsible for this tragedy because I don’t want to utilise this sacred territory for political objectives,” Aurangzeb remarked in response to the terrible occurrence, ostensibly referring to Imran Khan.
“However, fixing the ways in which these people have destroyed our society will take time, and we can only do it by maintaining a constructive mindset.”
She went on to say that the PML-leadership N’s had given its workers instructions.
Following the event, political and religious figures, as well as others from many walks of life, voiced their displeasure and strongly denounced the singing of political slogans at the Masjid-e-Nabwi.
Pakistan to approach Saudi Arabia for action against Masjid-e-Nabawi slogan chanters
Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Rana Sanaullah, declared earlier today that the country will ask Saudi Arabia to take action against individuals responsible.
Sanaullah cautioned PTI members of significant consequences and asked them to “keep within their limitations” during a news conference accompanied by Adviser to Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira.
“If you want to fight with us, fight democratically,” the interior minister had remarked, adding that democratically battling should not cross any lines.
“If you want to compete with us, do it according to democratic principles, but don’t go beyond,” Sanaullah urged.
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