Politicians, others condemn 'shameful' incident at Masjid-e-Nabwi

Videos of the enraged crowd in one of Islam’s holiest sites went viral on social media, participants condemned

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, federal ministers and parliamentarians on Thursday were confronted and heckled at the Masjid-e-Nabwi in Madina during their visit, as Pakistani pilgrims chanted slogans of “chor” (thieves) at the group.

The delegation consisting of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Miftah Ismail, Shahzain Bugti, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Khawaja Asif, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Mohsin Dawar, arrived in Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

As officials went to the holy site to offer prayers, they were provoked by a mob chanting slogans against the new regime.

As videos of the enraged crowd went viral on social media, participants faced condemnation from public figures who criticised the pilgrim’s abhorrent behaviour within one of Islam’s holiest sites.

Political leaders and celebrities took to the micro-blogging site Twitter to oppose the act.

Read Shehbaz begins Saudi visit with prayers in Madina

'Shameful' incident

Information Minister Marriyam Aurangzeb released a statement condemning the act, stating that the event was orchestrated by a "select group". She added that while most Pakistanis respected the sanctity of the mosque she did not want to name the "person responsible for this incident" because she did not want to use the holy land for political means.

میں اس شخص کا نام اس پاک زمین پہ نہیں لونگی کیونکہ اس زمین کو سیاست کیلیےاستعمال نہیں کرنا چاہتی.لیکن انہوں نے جو معاشرےمیں تباہی کی.انہیں ٹھیک کرنےمیں بھی وقت لگےگا اور یہ بھی ہمارے مثبت رویوں سےٹھیک ہوگا.
ہم نے اپنےکارکنان کو ہدایت جاری کی ہیں کہ اپنےجذبات کو کنٹرول میں رکھیں pic.twitter.com/nfUxeeq1US

— PML(N) (@pmln_org) April 28, 2022

The minister added that she prayed for the unity of the Pakistani society, "it will take time for us to fix the damage done to our society but we will do it with a positive attitude."

آج مسجد نبوی میں احتجاج کی صورت میں جو حرم شریف کی پامالی کی گئی یہ بالکل اسلام میں درست نہیں ہے، اسکی جتنی بھی مذمت کی جائے کم ہے۔
#توہین_مسجد_نبوی_نامنظور

— Tariq Jamil (@TariqJamilOFCL) April 28, 2022

Religious scholar Mulana Tariq Jamil also condemned the act, stating it was a "violation" of the sacred mosque and the form of protest was not acceptable in Islam.

Condemn the shameful attack on Senior Ministers at the Masjid Nabvi in Medina, one of the most sacred sites in Islam. The intolerance and divisiveness being incited by the PTI to sate IKs inflated ego is leading Pakistan down a very dark path. (1/2)

— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) April 29, 2022

Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, sister of the recently appointed foreign minister, deemed the attack on senior ministers at Masjid-e-Nabwi "shameful", in a two-part tweet.

She accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former premier Imran Khan of inciting intolerance and divisiveness within the country. "Imran Khan's inflated ego is leading Pakistan down a very dark path," Aseefa said, adding that "shame and serious introspection" is required for the "cultists".

Some shame and serious introspection is in order for the cultists who are cheering on the death of basic decency.
(2/2)

— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) April 29, 2022

Cricketer and philanthropist Shahid Afridi also took to Twitter to condemn the event stating that the holy site was a place "where it is forbidden to raise one's voice."

یہ وہ جگہ ہے جہاں آواز بلند کرنے کی بھی ممانعت ہے مگر ہم اپنی سیاسی دشمنیاں نبھانے کے لئے حرم کی حرمت تک بھول گئے۔ریاست مدینہ کے تقدس سے بھی منکر ہو گئے۔نعرے لگانے والوں کی پہچان تو ہو جائے گی لیکن پاکستان کی شناخت کو آج ناقابل تلافی نقصان پہنچا ہے۔ pic.twitter.com/GesGxrftQE

— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) April 28, 2022

"We forgot its sanctity in order to fulfill our political enmities," the cricketer stated adding that while those who chanted the slogans may be identified, they had managed to damage the identity of Pakistan irreparably.

The sloganeering yesterday in Masjid-e-Nabwi was a new low in Pakistani politics. This was truly beneath contempt and beyond shameless.

— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) April 29, 2022

Finance Minister Miftah Ismail claimed that the event marked a "new low in Pakistani politics," deeming the act "beneath contempt and beyond shameless."

لوگوں میں جو غم اور غصہ پایا جاتا ہے اس کا ہمیں احساس ہے، لیکن مقدس مقامات کے تقدس کا احترام کرنا ہم سب پر لازم ہے.

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) April 29, 2022

PTI General-Secretary and former planning minister Asad Umar also urged restraint stating, "we are aware of the grief and anger of the people, but we must respect the sanctity of the holy places."

 

مسجد نبوی میں پیش آنے والے شرمناک واقعہ کو پہلے پی ٹی آئی کے رہنماؤں نے فخر سے شیئر کیا لیکن عوامی ردعمل آنے کے بعد ان کو احساس ہوا ہے کہ عمران خان کی اندھی تقلید میں شاید وہ کافی آگے نکل گئے ہیں اور غلطی کو محسوس کرتے ہوئے اعتراف کر رہے ہیں مقدس مقامات پر ایسا نہیں ہونا چاہیے

— Kamran Yousaf (@Kamran_Yousaf) April 28, 2022

Journalist and anchorperson Kamran Yousaf commented on the reaction of the PTI leadership claiming that the "embarrassing incident at Masjid-e-Nabwi was first proudly shared by the PTI leaders but after the public reaction, they realised that they may have gone too far in blind imitation of Imran Khan."