Indian wants to go to Haj on foot, Pakistani man approaches Supreme Court for help
Indian Hajj Yatra Pak Supreme Court: Shihab Chottur had set out on a journey of 8,640 km on foot from his hometown in Kerala in June to reach Haj in 2023. He was going to pass through Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait during the journey. However, he was stopped by Pakistani immigration officials at the Wagah border in October as he did not have a visa.
Lahore. A Pakistani man on Wednesday challenged in the Supreme Court the decision of the Lahore High Court which dismissed a petition seeking a ‘transit visa’ for a 29-year-old Indian national. This Indian citizen wanted to enter Pakistan so that he could travel to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for Haj.
The petitioner, Sarwar Taj, a resident of Lahore, contended in his petition that the Government of Pakistan had issued visas to a large number of Indian Sikhs during the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev and on other occasions to visit holy places in the country (Pakistan). This facility was provided to Hindus. He said that similarly, it should give (a transit) visa to an Indian Muslim who wants to reach Saudi Arabia on foot for Haj.
Shihab Chottur set out on a journey of 8,640 km on foot from his hometown in Kerala in June to reach Haj in 2023. He was going to pass through Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait during the journey. However, he was stopped by Pakistani immigration officials at the Wagah border in October as he did not have a visa.
