By Afshain Afzal

Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian along with Iranian Foreign Minister, senior ministers, and other high-ranking officials landed at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport on 2 August 2025, where received by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and senior provincial officials. The President of brotherly Iran along with delegation proceeded directly to the mausoleum of Sir Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal and paid homage to the great poet. Why the Iranian President landed at Lahore instead of federal capital Islamabad and why President of Pakistan was not there to receive at the airport? These give absurd and dangerous signals.

If we recall, Pakistan’s Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi visited Mashhad, Iran on 14 July 2025, to participate in Iran-Iraq-Pakistan conference on Zaireen (pilgrims) including managing the Arba'een pilgrimage. He also held separate meeting Iranian President Dr Pezeshkian and shared Pakistan contribution for with unity among Muslim countries through introducing Iranian religious, cultural and heritage bonds. Interestingly, as a preplanned move Mohsin Naqvi declared on 27 July 2025 that land route from Pakistan to Iran would be closed to Pakistani Zaireen whereas in the conference he was too vocal about airlifting Zaireen from Quetta to Taftan under military security. What could be Mohsin Naqi’s objective in visiting Iran for making arrangements in Iran and Iraq during Arba'een is quite obnoxious.

As reaction, Dr. Shabbir Hassan Maisami, the Secretary-General of the Shia Ulema Council Pakistan, Chairman Zahra Academy Pakistan & Secretary General Islami Tehreek Pakistan threaten Islamabad of severe consequences gave 24 hours deadline to Government of Pakistan otherwise they would take stage in Islamabad. Allama Syed Nasir Abbas Taqvi announced that State cannot impose war and it is sole responsibility of Ulama to issue Fatwa. Similarly, Allama Basharat Hussain Imami declared that Shi’ite do not require any license for religious processions and demanded removal of ban from Quaid-e-Azam’s fellow school of thought, Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Fiqa Jafferia. At Press Club Islamabad leader of Majlis Wadhat Muslimeen, Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Jaffery also declared that they will not accept any restriction for Shiite on Pak-Iran border and he would lead the procession to border.

It is matter of concern that the childish statement by Pakistan’s Federal Interior Minister resulted in social media campaigns creating lawlessness; anti-state statements condemnation of Pakistani authorities and the same must be investigated. It is also to be investigated how Federal Minister of Interior can visit to a foreign country to meet President of another country and carryout discussion on Iran-Iraq-Pakistan conference on pilgrims as well as other issues when Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has been given the mandate to deal with such subjects. Pakistani authorities should not wait for the worse and put the country in order.