Demonstrations led by MWM conclude following productive discussions with the government regarding Arbaeen travel arrangements.
In a significant development, a seven-point agreement has been reached between the federal government and the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) regarding the Arbaeen pilgrimage. This agreement aims to ensure smooth travel for the estimated 700,000 Pakistani pilgrims despite restrictions on land routes.
The key points of the agreement include:
- The Arbaeen march planned by MWM has been postponed, and parties have agreed to resolve issues through dialogue instead of protest.
- Road travel for Arbaeen pilgrims this year is banned due to security concerns; however, the government will arrange air travel with discounted tickets. Flight operations to Iraq for pilgrims will begin within two to three days.
- The government will facilitate extending Iraqi visa validity by up to 60 days for pilgrims in coordination with Iraqi authorities.
- Pilgrims who have already received visas will receive airfare subsidies.
- Students currently stranded at the Pakistan-Iran border will be allowed to enter Iran without hindrance.
- The government has committed to ensuring refunds for payments made to tour operators, bus services, and transport companies by pilgrims who had booked overland travel.
- The Taftan-Rimdan border will remain open this year for security reasons, but overland travel is discouraged due to safety concerns. The Taftan border will not be closed nor will be shut in the future for pilgrims.
High-level negotiations involving federal officials, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, MWM leaders, and the Shia Ulema Council led to this agreement. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, and MWM leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri were present at the meeting.
The MWM Vice Chairman, Allama Ahmed Iqbal Rizvi, thanked the state minister and governor for playing a positive role and realizing the difficulties the land travel ban was causing to the pilgrims. He also demanded that the federal government provide concessionary air tickets to pilgrims who had already obtained a visa for the pilgrimage.
In a notable move, the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and the Shia Ulema Council have called off their planned march from Karachi's Ancholi to the Pakistan-Iran border. All parties have agreed that now there will be talks, no protest march.
The Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, earlier announced that Pakistani pilgrims would not be allowed to travel to Iran or Iraq by road for this year's Arbaeen pilgrimage due to security concerns. This agreement marks a significant step towards resolving these concerns and ensuring a smooth pilgrimage for the millions of Pakistani pilgrims.
The MWM Vice Chairman, Allama Ahmed Iqbal Rizvi, also announced that they would monitor progress on the understanding reached with the government to ensure its implementation. The government, for its part, has not stated any plans for closing the Taftan border in the future for pilgrims.
- Despite the ban on road travel for Arbaeen pilgrims due to politics and security concerns, the government has agreed to facilitate air travel with discounted tickets, marking a significant development in policy-and-legislation regarding travel restrictions.
- Amidst general-news about the Arbaeen pilgrimage, both the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and the Shia Ulema Council have decided to call off their planned march due to the new agreements, highlighting the power of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving political issues.
