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Around 3,000 pilgrims are stranded for the last three days at the Iran-Pakistan border due to lack of security needed to escort their buses to Quetta.
Pilgrims returning from Iran and Iraq are usually escorted by security forces due to past attacks and existing threats by sectarian outfits on buses carrying pilgrims.
The pilgrims were returning home from Iraq, where they had gone to commemorate Ashura.
Majority of those stranded include women and children, with around 1,200 men amongst them.
"We are not being provided clean drinking water or food by the authorities. Food supplies carried by the pilgrims have finished," said Mohammad Sadiq, a stranded pilgrim.
Women and children are spending nights under the cold sky, with not much heed paid by security officials, he added.
The people stranded on the border also lamented a lack of basic amenities.
Pilgrims are required to pay a per-day fee for staying at the Pakistan House, but some stranded pilgrims alleged that the authorities are not escorting them as they want to charge extra money.
"Pilgrims are stopped at the Pakistan House due to security reasons and will be escorted to Quetta as soon as possible,” said a security official on condition of anonymity.
The stranded pilgrims have demanded from the government for aid, and have requested earliest possible escort to the provincial capital.
Comments (32) Closed
Pilgrims must be provided top security.
It is shameful that FC is not providing security even though these pilgrims are major contributors to the traveler's economy but are easily targeted and killed on sectarian basis. Throughout the world Pilgrim tourism is rising but Paksitan's Government care much less about it. It is to be remembered that this region is not too far from CPEC.
Is this how Pakistan treat her minorities? Pakistan is providing security to Chinese but not able to do same for own country people.
Hello, government (federal & provincial CM, Rangers, Frontier Corps, Levies, Army) provide & facilitate for immediate needs, and robust security escort to your fellow citizens. This is your responsibility. Without any Let or Hindrances. Thanks!
Security is the great concern in Pakistan.
Shame on govt..where is pml-n ..they were talking about Imran khan yesterday
Praying for their safe return to home.
Government should resign.
Why they are not used train service which is better secure.
Is there anything done properly and in civilized manner in Pakistan.
Now here is perfect occasion for government to handle situation for our citizens.
Better be safe than sorry! Good move by the authorities.
And this is happening, while our inept leaders are busy making speeches to win the next elections.
That's exactly why people elect them in Pakistan - to be abandoned, forgotten and trod over.
Above all religions is the religion of Humanity. These people are citizens of Pakistan and should be escorted back immediately.
Mismanagement of the tour operators and the Provential local authorities. The tour operators should have made prior private security arrangements in view of the inability and inefficiency of the local authorities.
Govt where are you, why so inept at these important things.
What about sending military escorts to rescue these people. Alternatively, can these people be airlifted out of their situation?
Shame on government and security institutes to not look after them
If the allegations in this report are correct, the government should be ashamed of itself. How can you ignore the needs of pilgrims who have undergone the rigors of the travel to Iraq already.
How sickening is that, citizens of the country cannot travel within their own country without security! Shame on this government!!!
govt should take a notice of this..
Thank you PK government
Please raise voice and help these people who are in need.
I do not understand why ferry service for pilgrims from Karachi to an Iranian port could not be started. It would be a much safer route for this purpose.
Actually every one here in country wants to accumulate... Security concern is being made an excuse for this....
Pakistani government must stop Pakistanis from going to Irak, Syria and India for security reasons.
Shameless governance all around.
If some functionary is keeping them there against their will, and that too to benefit some hotel or other,it should be investigated!
The matter must be investigated and any found responsible must be dismissed from government services and tried in the court for making fuss of our country in the world.
Pak government should take care of her citizens without delay. Iranians are after all not as hospitable as we think.
No one is paying attention to taking care of the people, because they are all out making political speeches for the next elections - two years away.
Such a shameful spectacle.
This is not fair to leave these pilgrims left on mercy of nature government should provide them security.