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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will arrange special flights and coordinate with airlines to provide discounted tickets to Shia pilgrims traveling to Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage, State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry on Friday, following the closure of land route.

Thousands of Pakistanis travel to Iran and Iraq annually to visit religious sites, including observing Arbaeen (Arabic for “forty”), a significant religious occasion in Shia Islam that marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussain, who was “martyred” in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.

Islamabad last month suspended road travel to Iran and Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage this year, citing public safety and national security concerns. Pakistanis traveling to the countries via road have often been targeted in sectarian attacks by armed groups in the country’s restive Balochistan province, which shares border with Iran.

The decision led to a protest by Shia religious and political parties, prompting Chaudhry to arrive in the southern port city of Karachi to hold hours-long negotiations with the protest leaders to defuse the crisis by facilitating pilgrims with discounted travel and payment refunds.

“For those whose Iraqi visas have already been issued and who wish to travel overland, the government will coordinate with airlines to provide discounted tickets,” the state minister told reporters.

“Special flights will be arranged to facilitate pilgrims during the travel season, and flight operations to Iraq for these pilgrims will begin in the next two to three days.”

He said the government took painful decision of closing the Rimdan border crossing due to some “security and other concerns,” and it was not being close permanently, requesting pilgrims to take alternate travel routes this year.

“For those who have made advance payments to bus and transport operators, the Government of Pakistan will play its role in ensuring that the tour operators refund those payments,” Chaudhry said, adding the government would set up a committee to resolve pilgrim issues.

Islamabad’s decision to restrict road travel came in the wake of a rise in militant attacks in the province by ethnic Baloch militant groups who demand a greater share of the province’s mineral resources from Islamabad.

Separately, the Pakistani government is introducing a new, centralized system for organizing pilgrimages to holy sites in Iran and Iraq that would require interested parties to register as tour operators, the Pakistani religious affairs minister announced in July.

The statement followed an announcement by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi that Pakistani pilgrims would not be able to individually travel for religious pilgrimages from Jan. 1 next year. The decision was made after Iran, Iraq and Syria raised concerns with Islamabad about some of these Pakistani pilgrims overstaying their visas or working illegally in the host countries.

Pakistan previously had no formal structure for people to travel to Iran and Iraq for religious purposes. Although a system was approved in 2021 to organize these pilgrimages, but little progress was made on its implementation.

Islamabad: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Thursday it has decided to place cricketer Haider Ali under provisional suspension, saying it was informed that the Greater Manchester Police was conducting a criminal investigation against the athlete. 

Without sharing details of the investigation, the PCB said the probe relates to an incident that reportedly occurred during the Pakistan Shaheens’ cricket team’s recent tour of England.

The board said in line with its duty to ensure the welfare and legal rights of all its players, the PCB has ensured that Haider Ali has received “appropriate legal support” to protect his rights throughout this process. The cricket board added that it respects the legal procedures and processes of the UK and acknowledges the importance of allowing the investigation to run its due course.

“Accordingly, the PCB has decided to place Haider Ali under provisional suspension, effective immediately, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation,” it added. 

The cricket board said that once the legal proceedings conclude and all facts have been duly established, the PCB reserves the right to take “appropriate action” under its Code of Conduct.

“Until such time as the legal process reaches its conclusion, the PCB will not offer further comment on the matter,” the board concluded. 

Ali, 24, is a right-handed aggressive batter who has featured for Pakistan in only two ODIs but 35 T20Is and 164 T20s. In T20Is, he has scored 505 runs at an average of 17.41 and made three half-centuries. In T20s, the batter has scored 3,141 runs and scored 17 fifties.

He has played for renowned Pakistan Super League franchises such as Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi.