Six jailed in Madina for sloganeering during PM’s visit

PTI supporters convicted of violating the sanctity of Masjid-e-Nabawi (PBUH)

At least six Pakistani nationals were convicted of violating the sanctity of the Masjid-e-Nabawi (PBUH) in Madina during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia, a private TV channel reported on Thursday.

Quoting its diplomatic sources, the channel said that a court in Madina awarded 10-year jail term each to Anas, Irshad, Muhammad Saleem, while 8-year jail term each to Khawaja Luqman, Muhammad Afzal, and Ghulam Muhammad. The convicts were also fined Saudi Riyal 20,000 each.

In April this year, a group of protesters, allegedly belonging to the PTI, violated the sanctity of the Masjid-e-Nabawi after they loudly chanted slogans against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and members of his delegation, as they entered the mosque to pay their respects at the Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH).

Upon the arrival of PM Shehbaz and his delegation to the mosque, the protesters started chanting slogans of "chor, chor (thieves)" when they saw the premiere and harassed and raised objectionable slogans against Marriyum Aurangzeb.

The protesters also raised slogans against Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and misbehaved with the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief and federal Minister for Narcotics Control Shahzain Bugti. The protesters filmed the entire episode with their mobile phones.

Following the incident, political and religious leaders and people belonging to different sections of the society expressed their outrage at the incident and strictly condemned the chanting of political slogans at Masjid-e-Nabawi (PBUH).