The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has launched special flights to Iraq’s Najaf city to provide a seamless travel experience to pilgrims during the Islamic month of Muharram, Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday.
The Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala hold immense significance for Shia Muslims worldwide. Many Shia pilgrims travel to these cities during the first two months of the Islamic lunar calendar to honor the sacrifices made by Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
“Pakistan International Airlines has launched special flights to Najaf to facilitate pilgrims during Muharram,” Radio Pakistan reported. “The flight operation, called ‘Operation Ashura,’ aims to provide a seamless travel experience for pilgrims during this significant period of religious observance.”
The state broadcaster announced that return flights from Najaf would commence on July 20.
Pakistan’s central moon-sighting committee convened on Saturday in Quetta to observe the Muharram crescent. The Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC) declared that the first of Muharram would be on July 8, with Ashura, marking the martyrdom of Hussain, observed on July 17.
Ashura, which falls on the 10th of Muharram each year, sees hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims in Pakistan participating in religious gatherings and processions to mourn Hussain’s martyrdom. These events occur under tight security due to the history of militant groups targeting them, resulting in the deaths of hundreds.
Punjab, Pakistan’s largest province, has proposed a ban on all social media platforms from Muharram 6-11 to ensure security, as announced by provincial information minister Azma Bukhari on Friday. This measure aims to protect Shia Muslims from sectarian violence and control the spread of hate speech and misinformation, according to a letter from the provincial government to Pakistan’s interior ministry last week.
