Summary At least 64 martyrs out of total 100 have been laid to rest in Saudi Arabia, confirms minister
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Friday has announced Rs 5 lac for bereaved families of each Mina stampede martyr while Rs one lac for the injured.
The minister has taken a clear stance in favour of the Saudi government. He said that Saudi Arabia is taking every possible step to help the vicitimised families and cooperate with different Muslim countries after the incident.
Sardar Yousaf has denounced citing the tragic incident for political purposes. He has urged the parties and the Muslim world to avoid attaching a political leg to the sad story.
The minister, while talking to Dunya News exclusively in the federal capital said that the ministry would contact the affectees and grieving families for transfer of compensatory funds. The process would start once the Hajj operation is concluded, he added.
Yousaf confirmed that as many as 64 martyrs out of total 100 have been laid to rest in Saudi Arabia. He said that at least 17 are still missing. While dwelling on the details about the missing people, he said that two went to Saudi through government scheme while eight on a private scheme. At least seven of the missing persons have Iqama (residence permit) in Saudi.
The federal minister appreciated Saudi government’s Hajj administration and could not find any irregularity.
Earlier, some clerics in Pakistan had criticised Iranian government for giving a sectarian angle to the stampede that claimed more than thousand lives. They had said that Iran must stop using the tragedy to fuel the traditional rivalry with Saudi.
Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal on October 11 denied sharing administration of Hajj with other Muslim countries after much brouhaha over Mina stampede. He said that it is a matter involving ‘privilege’ and ‘sovereignty’ for Saudi Arabia.
Saudi top religious leader freed crown prince Naif from any responsibility of the act in a meeting. He said that stampede during Hajj is beyond human control.
The stampede had occurred during the symbolic stoning of the devil by hundreds of thousands of pilgrims at Jamarat Bridge in Mina, just outside the holy city of Mecca.
