ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi after a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday announced that Pakistani Zaireen (pilgrims) would be barred from travelling by road to Iran and Iraq on the Chehlum of Imam Husain due to security concerns, though he said the premier issued special directives to facilitate their air travel by increasing the number of flights.

`After extensive consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, [the] Balochistan Government, and security agencies, it has been decided that zaireen (pilgrims) will not be allowed to travel to Iraq and Iran by road for Arbaeen this year,` Mr Naqvi said on X.

`This difficult decision has been taken in the interest of public safety and national security,` the interior minister asserted.

Millions of pilgrims from across the world visit Iraq each year to attend the Chehlum of Imam Husain in Karbala to mark the 40th day of mourning for the martyrdom of the grandson of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).A number of tragic incidents have taken place in the past when pilgrims, who travelled by road, were attacked and killed by terrorists in parts of Balochistan.

Mr Naqvi said that PM Shehbaz Sharif directed PIA to `arrange maximum flights to facilitate pilgrims in the coming days`.

The prime minister also directed Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif toarrange `special flights` for the pilgrims, said a press release from the PM Office.

The government is set to introduce a new travel management system from Jan 1, 2026, under which pilgrims will only be allowed to undertake the journey through registered tour operators.

Under the new measures, the traditional Salar System will be abolished and it will be replaced with a Zaireen Group Organisers model.

The weekly flights to Iran are also being increased from six to 15 and 107 more special flights will also bearranged for pilgrims going to Iraq.

Earlier this month, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousuf retracted his statement that 40,000 pilgrims had not returned from trips to Iran and Iraq.

He later clarified that a `misunderstanding` of outdated paper records that had not yet been fully digitised resulted in his earlier statement.

Special PIA flights After the PM-interior minister`s meeting, the national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines announced it will start special flights for Iran and Iraq to accommodate Zaireen from Aug 8 to 11.

Similarly, PIA flights to bring Zaireen back to the country have been scheduled from Aug 18 to 21 from Najaf.

PIA has also started booking and sale of tickets for the purpose.

It also announced that more flights could be scheduled later keeping in view of the market demand.

MWM rejects ban Reacting sharply to the move, the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM) rejected the ban on pilgrims` travel to Iraq for Arbaeen via land routes, calling it unacceptable, unjustified and unconstitutional.

In a statement issued after a joint meeting of the MWM`s provincial, divisional and Azadari Wing officials at Wahdat House here on Sunday, the MWM called the government move unacceptable.

The meeting, presided over by MWM Sindh President Allama Syed Bagar Abbas Zaidi, was attended senior MWM leaders Allama Sadiq Jafri, Razi Haider and Allama Mukhtar Imami.

Addressing the gathering, Allama Zaidi said that instead of ensuring security for the pilgrims, the government is trying to hide its failure by imposing unnecessary restrictions on pilgrims` travel, adding that Iran and Iraq are not in a state of war.

He said that it is the government`sduty to provide security to the people and keep routes safe and open for the pilgrims.

Allama Syed Ali Anwar Jafri, head of the Azadari Wing of MWM, also condemned what he called the government`s `dual policies`.

`On the one hand, the government claims to facilitate pilgrims, but on the other, it is imposing restrictions andthis has eroded the public trust in the government,` he said.

The MWM demanded the government to immediately withdraw the ban and provide proper security to pilgrims or get ready for nationwide protest campaign over the sacred issue.

Imran Ayub in Karachi also contributed to this report