The government has decided to request the authorities in Saudi Arabia to initiate action against those people who raised slogans at Masjid-e-Nabvi and misbehaved with Pakistani ministers during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Addressing a joint news conference with Adviser to PM on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira in Islamabad on Friday, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah said that the government will request Saudi Arabia to take action against those who raised slogans at Masjid-e-Nabvi.
Rana Sanullah said the interior ministry has sought advice from the law ministry about taking legal action against the culprits. “My ministry is going to make a humble request to the Saudi government to take appropriate action in this regard so that such behaviour is controlled. We will also apprise them that the whole nation passed through a stressful period when they came to know what happened at the holy mosque.”
He added that the government will also request the kingdom to identify the culprits through CCTV footage and share details with the government so that action is taken against them. "They should be sent back, they should not be allowed to stay there [Madinah], they don’t deserve to be at holy places as it could spark religious disharmony here," said Rana Sanaullah.
Rana Sanaullah and Qamar Zaman Kaira vehemently condemned the catcalls and jeers hurled at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his coterie at Masjid-e-Nabawi apparently by the supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The interior minister said the incident that took place in Madinah the previous day was unfortunate. “The incident is a disgrace to the entire nation. It was pre-planned and organised from Pakistan,” he maintained.
“It had been stated in a press conference a day earlier that people in Makkah and Madinah will treat the government delegation badly,” Rana Sana pointed out.
“Such incidents are regrettable. Insulting people will make politics difficult. You [PTI] have tested our patience for four years,” he warned.
Rana Sana said that he, as a president of PML-N Punjab, was under intense pressure as the party workers were encouraging him for giving the PTI leaders the taste of their own medicine.
“If I want to humiliate the political rivals, the same can happen to Sheikh Rasheed,” he said, adding: “But, I have advised all the party workers to abstain from doing any such action.”
While throwing light on the alleged corruption of former first lady Bushra Bibi’s friend Farah Khan, the interior minister said that one of her transactions was of Rs840 million. “The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has brought forward the case of Farah Khan,” he stated.
“You will know [your worth] when you go to your constituencies,” Rana Sana said and added that the entire nation stood by the judiciary and the chief election commissioner.
PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira also criticised PTI chairman Imran Khan and questioned from him, “How much divide in society do you want?”
He termed the previous day’s incident very painful, adding: “We are showing restraint.”
He also said that the politics of Imran Khan was not democratic, adding the President of Pakistan was playing the role of an opposition leader.
He also accused Imran Khan of provoking people against political rivals. “Can improvement in the country be brought by erecting walls in society?” he questioned.
“He thinks he alone knows America, Europe and FATA,” remarked Qamar Zaman Kaira, adding that things were unfolding in front of the nation.
He also flayed Imran Khan for encouraging attacks on the institutions that refused to obey him.