The Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) postponed its protest convoy against the government’s ban on road travel to Iran and Iraq for pilgrimage.

An announcement to this effect was made by Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori late Wednesday night, who also claimed that the MWM decided to postpone its Karachi to Hub convoy at his request.

The Sindh governor said that he had held detailed discussions on the matter with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who cited security concerns as the main reason for the decision.

In addition, Minister of State Talal Chaudhry has also been contacted in this regard, he added.

Tesori expressed hope that the matter would be resolved amicably by Thursday afternoon.

He also assured that discussions held with the MWM leadership would be fully honoured and, as a federal representative, he would play every possible role in resolving the issue.

Tessori said that another meeting with the leadership of the pilgrims is scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

It may be recalled that on July 27, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had made a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that pilgrims would not be allowed to travel to Iran and Iraq by land this year. However, air travel would be allowed.

Naqvi had said that this decision was made in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Balochistan government and security agencies in view of public safety and national security.

The MWM had rejected the government decision and announced that they would proceed to the border with the pilgrims.

Speaking at a press conference in Karachi, MWM Chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas had said that visiting the holy sites in Karbala was part of their faith and they would not back down from their religious obligation.

The MWM leadership had accused the government of economically exploiting pilgrims by imposing heavy taxes on air travel, while the closure of land routes would cause losses worth billions of rupees.