An Iranian delegation, headed by Qazi Asghar, representative of Wali-e-Faqih (religious guardian) in Iran’s hajj and pilgrimage affairs department, has invited officials of the Pakistan religious affairs ministry to discuss security-related issues for pilgrims who visit holy shrines every year.
Asghar extended the invitation during an interaction on Monday with parliamentarians and officials of the religious affairs ministry. He briefed members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs about his country’s hajj arrangements.
Religious Affairs Secretary Shaukat Hayat Durrani also briefed the delegation about Pakistan’s arrangements. Iranian officials informed the committee that they are preparing a proposal [a memorandum of understanding] to tackle all issues, including the security of pilgrims. However, they did not share any details about this proposal during the meeting.
The delegation will participate in the International Hajj Conference on Tuesday (today) and meet Religious Affairs Minister Khurshid Shah to discuss rising security concerns for pilgrims in the region.
The Iranian delegation will also meet delegations from other countries during the conference. Participants are flying in from India, Bangladesh, China, Afghanistan and Tajikistan, and will give a briefing on hajj policies in their respective countries.
The issue of pilgrims’ security will remain a focal point of this conference, said Joint Secretary Shahzad, who is preparing the agenda for the conference. “Security for visitors is the prime responsibility of religious guardians of all countries,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2011.
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The very first thing the Hujj Confrence should discuss is to make sure that the Hajees are assembled in Arafaat on the 9th day of Zilhijj. Very often it has been noticed that when it is the 8th day east, west, north and south of Arabia, the governemnt officials in Riyadh call it the 9th day. Last year exactly the same thing happened. The proof is that all those Muslims from Austarlia to the Americas who obey the Sunnah of seeing Helaal in the sky observed Wednesday as the day of last Eidulazha, wheras the innocent Hajees were assembled on Monday which confirms that it was the 8th day of Zilhijj. The other proof is that the Arabic speaking Muslims of Morocco and Muslims of South Africa joined the world Muslims to celebrate Eidulazha on Wednesday. All the representatives of all the Muslims countries need to collectively take up this matter with the Saudee government and offer help in going out to see the Helaal in Arabia. The Helaal for next Hujj will not be seen in Arabia or anywhere on that much of northern latitude as Arabia until the Helaal reaches the west coast of Africa. It is expected to be seen in far south in Zanzibar, southern parts of east and west Africa, also known as South Africa.