ISLAMABAD: The Shia Ulema Council (SUC) has called for a nationwide protest and sit-ins from Tuesday (today) against the government’s decision to block land routes for pilgrims travelling to Iraq via Iran for Arbaeen (Chehlum of Imam Husain).

The SUC came up with the decision after a meeting of its central executive council, chaired by Allama Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, on Monday.

Allama Dr Shabbir Hassan Meesami, the party’s secretary general, told a press conference that rallies would be held across the country from Tuesday, while nationwide demonstrations would take place on Friday.

Also on Monday, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar told the National Assembly that the ban on land travel to Iran was temporary, adding that the government had made the decision due to security situation in the region. He said the the government was aware of the difficulties of the Zaireen.

The minister was responding to the criticism on the government’s decision to impose a ban on land travel to Iran by an opposition lawmaker from Kurram, Hameed Hussain.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2025