KARACHI: In a significant development, the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and the Shia Ulema Council have called off their planned protest march from Karachi’s Ancholi to the Pakistan-Iran border following successful negotiations with the federal government.
The breakthrough came after a high-level meeting in Karachi where Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, and MWM leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jafri addressed a joint press conference to announce a seven-point agreement.
During the late-night talks facilitated by Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, both sides agreed to the terms of the agreement, which primarily focused on ensuring smooth travel for Arbaeen pilgrims despite initial restrictions.
Minister Talal Chaudhry expressed his gratitude to the MWM leadership for ending their protest march, assuring them that the Taftan border would remain open for pilgrims. He also confirmed that visa extensions of up to 60 days would be facilitated in coordination with Iraqi authorities and that discounted flights would be arranged for pilgrims who intended to travel by air.
A key part of the agreement was the government’s commitment to refund payments made by pilgrims to tour operators, bus services, and transport companies for overland travel bookings. Chaudhry also advised against land travel this year due to security concerns, but assured that the Taftan-Rimdan border would remain open.
MWM Vice Chairman Allama Ahmed Iqbal Rizvi thanked both the Sindh Governor and the federal government for their positive role in resolving the issue. He confirmed that the Arbaeen protest march was now officially called off and emphasized the importance of monitoring the progress of the agreement. Rizvi further requested the government to offer concessionary air tickets to those who had already obtained visas for the pilgrimage.
The talks followed an earlier announcement by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who had stated that Pakistani pilgrims would not be allowed to travel to Iran or Iraq by road this year due to security concerns. This move had sparked protests, particularly among those planning to travel for Arbaeen, which marks the 40th day of mourning following the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) at the Battle of Karbala.
Annually, around 700,000 Pakistani pilgrims travel to Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. With the resolution of this issue, the government hopes to facilitate the safe travel of the pilgrims while addressing the security concerns raised by the authorities.
