MAKKAH/MEDINA: Saudi authorities have taken into custody several PTI protesters who raised slogans against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other PML(N) leaders at Masjid-e-Nabvi on Thursday.
PM Shehbaz Sharif is visiting Saudi Arabia on a 3-day official visit along with his cabinet members, family members, and others.
On Thursday, a group PTI supporters violated the sanctity of the Masjid-e-Nabvi in Medina by chanting the slogans of “chor, chor” against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation.
The unfortunate incident took place on Thursday when PM Shehbaz along with his delegation entered the mosque to pay respect at the Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH).
A day earlier, PM Shehbaz and his delegation had reached Saudi Arabia for a three-day official visit at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.
The delegation accompanying the premier includes Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Shahzain Bugti, Mohsin Dawar, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi, Chaudhry Salik, and four members of PM Shehbaz Sharif’s staff.
However, upon the arrival of PM Shehbaz and his delegation at the mosque, the incident took place, videos of which have since gone viral on social media. The hooligans not only chanted slogans of “chor, chor (thieves) when they saw the premiere, but they also harassed and raised objectionable slogans against Marriyum Aurangzeb.
Meanwhile, the protesters also misbehaved with the JWP chief and Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Shahzain Bugti and pulled his hair.
The video doing rounds on social media shows that protesters also continued to film the entire episode with their mobile phones.
Commenting on the incident, Bugti said: “I respect Mecca and Medina a lot and no one can speak in a loud voice there. Those who have passed derogatory remarks against Marriyum Aurangzeb are still here, therefore, the news related to their arrest is fake”.
Reacting to the unfortunate incident, Aurangzeb — without using Imran Khan’s name but in an apparent reference to him, said: “I don’t want to name the person responsible for this incident because I don’t want to use this holy land for political purposes.”
