Ashrafi lashes out at ‘PTI workers’ for sloganeering at Masjid-e-Nabwi

PM’s aide says agitators were deputed at various places in the holy mosque as ‘pre-planned by their masterminds’

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Interfaith Harmony and Middle East Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi on Sunday accused PTI workers of violating the sanctity of Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH) by raising slogans during the recent visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Ashrafi said he was an eyewitness to the entire episode and added that some agitators were deputed in groups at various places in the holy mosque as “pre-planned by their masterminds”.

He said when the delegation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived at the Prophet’s mosque to pay respects at the Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH), the “politically sick” people chanted full-throat indecent slogans violating the reverence of the sacred place.

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He, with tearful eyes, lamented that the uproar was continued even during the call to Maghrib prayer.

Ashrafi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, said this disgraceful incident had printed a bad impression of Pakistan all over the Muslim world and it would increase difficulties for the Pakistani diaspora in Saudi Arabia.

Also read: Pakistani pilgrims held for ‘disrespecting’ Masjid-e-Nabwi

Instead of condemning the immoral act of their workers, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders were defending their ill-mannered and unruly behaviour through illogical reasoning, he regretted.

He claimed that the PTI workers manhandled Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Nawabzada Shazain Bugti and misbehaved with Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mariyyum Aurangzeb. “It was highly condemnable and against the social, moral and religious ethics.”

He said the people affiliated with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and other coalition partners in Madina could have responded in a befitting manner but the prestige and sanctity of the holy land were the topmost priority for them.

Clarifying his significant position, Ashrafi said he was not scared of any malicious social media campaign against him as he worked for the peace, progress and prosperity of the country and would keep on till his last breath of life.

He said he had no personal agenda but the sanctity of Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH) would not be compromised at all costs.

Also read: FIR lodged against Imran, others under blasphemy laws over incident at Masjid-e-Nabwi

He said the prime minister and his team had forgiven those who misbehaved with them but the law would take its course.

He said he was grateful to Saudi leadership for according a warm welcome to PM Shehbaz and opened the doors of Khana-e-Kaaba and Roza-e-Rasool in his and colleagues’ honour.

Ashrafi said it was a successful visit and expressed the hope that Pak-Saudi relations would attain new heights of glory in the present set-up as both the brotherly countries were standing by each other through thick and thin.