This post is also available in: العربية (Arabic) اردو (Urdu)
Every single year, Shia pilgrims from all over the world strengthen their stance on visiting the shrine of Hazrat Imam Hussain (R.A). The shrine, which is located in Karbala, has people from over 40 countries coming to it, labeled as the largest public gathering in the world.
The Arbayeen pilgrimage is a very sacred event in the life of a Shia Muslim. People save up all their lives to become part of the pilgrimage at least once, and the Shia majority in Pakistan make their way to Karbala via two different mediums. One is through traveling by air and the other is a by-road journey through Quetta into the Taftan Border, where they enter Iran.
Pakistani Shia pilgrims who had planned to go to Arbayeen through the Taftan border from Quetta have been left disappointed by the government and other authorities, who have only let 35 buses out of 400+ to go to Iran, stopping the rest for ‘inadequate security measures.’
It is not a myth that Shia pilgrims on their way to Arbayeen have been subject to massacres by local Sunni extremist forces who resort to sectarian violence, killing hundreds while they travel in buses.
With the authorities not being able to provide enough security, thousands of Shia devotees are currently stuck near the Taftan border, with them not being able to go any further. Devotees stuck have shared their videos on social media, stating that there is no food, no place that can be considered as a washroom, no place to sleep and people are getting sick in the cold weather.
Some men also stated that women and children were in very poor condition after being stuck at the border for 7 odd days. The Shia pilgrims have told the authorities that they would not be returning home, but would wait as long as they have to. The Arbayeen pilgrimage is very close to their hearts.
Authorities need to show more interest in the Arbayeen pilgrimage as every year, it is the same story. It is not impossible that adequate security measures be given to the Shia pilgrims who travel via buses to Iran — there is enough time to plan things accordingly. As for now, the current lot of devotees stuck at the border need to be given some sort of relief.
