The government will make arrangements to bring 500 Pakistani preachers belonging to Tableeghi Jamaat back to Pakistan who were trapped in various countries due to the coronavirus pandemic. For this purpose, National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser has constituted a committee, which would start its function as soon as possible.
The committee under the convenership of Minister of State for Safron Sheryar Afridi with representatives of ministries of health, interior, foreign affairs and Aviation Division will collect data of all foreigners in Pakistan and stranded Pakistanis abroad, and suggest measures to transport them back home.
The speaker took this decision in a tele-video meeting held at Parliament House between representatives of Tableeghi Jamaat from Raiwind.
Federal Minister for Interior Syed Ijaz Shah, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri and Minister of State for Safron Sheryar Afridi were also present during the meeting.
Representatives of ministries of health, interior, foreign affairs and Aviation Division were present during the meeting.
The speaker directed the National Assembly Secretariat to notify the committee, so that it could start its functions as soon as possible. The speaker also directed for associating representatives of four provinces, the AJ&K and the Gilgit-Baltistan with the committee in that regard.
The Minister for Interior assured that the Government of Pakistan would make all necessary arrangements for safe transportation of all the foreigners and stranded Pakistanis once data was available.
He said that the Government of Pakistan was cognizant of the coronavirus pandemic and was making all-out efforts to keep its citizens safe. The speaker appreciated the assurance of the minister of interior and said that 500 Pakistani on tableegh missions aboard were stranded in various countries and arrangements might be made to bring them back to Pakistan.
He assured this Jamaat's all-out support for jointly tackling this pandemic. He also suggested for allowing Afghan nationals on tableegh mission to leave through land routes back to their country. He said that the coronavirus pandemic was a global issue and could be fought through joint efforts and national unity.
He said that attributing spread of coronavirus to particular religious sect or group of people was not acceptable. The speaker said that Tableeghi Jamaat had immense contributions for spreading Islam in the world. He said that Jamaat had always portrayed the real image of Islam, which underlined peace, harmony and interfaith tolerance.
He said that multiple factors lead to the spread of coronavirus globally and it should not be associated with any religious sect or group.
He said that the government was cognizant of the concerns of people associated with Tableeghi Jamaat, thus important ministers and senior representatives of their ministries had been called to listen and address problems and concerns of the Jamaat.
He said that arrangements might be made to transport more than 1,500 foreigners from various countries currently in Pakistan on tableegh mission back to their countries. He also suggested for allowing locals tested negative to leave for their native areas.