AhlulBayt News Agency

source : IRNA
Monday

5 October 2015

12:28:47 PM
713726

Saudi Arabia responsible for Mina tragedy: Pakistani Shia cleric

A senior Pakistani Shia Cleric says that Saudi Arabia is responsible for the management of Hajj related activities so responsibility of Mina tragedy falls on the shoulders of Saudi government.

‘Niaz Hussain Naqvi’, vice president ‘Wafaqul Madaris Shia Pakistan’ said that Saudi Arabia should accept the responsibility and apologize to the whole Muslim world over its mismanagement which resulted in Mina incident.

“Saudi government had appointed inexperienced and incompetent staff at Mina, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Haji pilgrims,” he said.
He went on to say that at the moment there is uncertainty over the cause of the Mina stampede.

“Instead of accepting the responsibility of the incident, Saudi Arabia has praised the performance of its Hajj staff. They are not ashamed over Mina tragedy which is very unfortunate,” he added.

He said that Saudi government did not show any respect for the dead bodies of Hajj pilgrims, martyred in Mina tragedy. “No doubt the government of Saudi Arabia is incompetent and cannot handle Hajj gathering alone,” he said.

Niaz Hussain Naqvi also slammed the Pakistani government for warning news channels against any criticism of Saudi Arabia. “The Pakistani channels were only trying to inform the people about Mina tragedy facts and it was a step in the right direction, but the government issued a warning against them which is a highly condemnable act,” he said.

The cleric said that Saudi Arabia does not agree with the suggestion of independent probe into the Mina tragedy because it will reveal their incompetence in dealing with Hajj matters.

He added that the holy sites of Mecca and Medina belong to entire Muslim Ummah, therefore, all the Muslim counties in the world should have joint control of all the matters related to Hajj.

/106