Slogan-chanting at Masjid-e-Nabawi: Political, religious leadership denounce incident

• Disrespect to Haram Sharif is not acceptable in Islam, says Maulana Tariq Jameel.
• I ask forgiveness to Allah for what has happened today at Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH), says cricketer Mohammad Yousaf. 
• PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan also denounces incident, calls it "against sanctity of holy place."

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The political and religious leadership of Pakistan and others from different sections of society strictly condemned Friday the chanting of slogans against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his delegation at Masjid-e-Nabwi (PBUH) in Madinah.

A group of protesting worshippers violated the sanctity of the sacred site and and chanted slogans against the premier and other government officials who accompanied him as soon as they entered Masjid-e-Nabawi to pay their respects at the Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH).

The protesters passed derogatory remarks against Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, and misbehaved with Jamhoori Wattan Party (JWP) chief Shahzain Bugti. 

Following the incident, politicians, religious leaders and others expressed outrage at the unfortunate incident and vehemently condemned it.

Commenting on it, Shahzain Bugti said: "I respect Mecca and Medina a lot and no one can speak in a loud voice there."

Likewise, Marriyum Aurangzeb, without using Imran Khan's name but in an apparent reference to him, said: “I don’t want to name the person responsible for this incident because I don’t want to use this holy land for political purpose."

"However, it will take time for us to fix the ways in which these people  have damaged our society and we can only do that through a positive attitude."

She further added that the PML-N leadership has instructed its workers to control their emotions.

Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari condemned the incident and termed it a shameful act. “The intolerance and divisiveness being incited by the PTI to sate [Imran Khan's] inflated ego is leading Pakistan down a very dark path,” she wrote on Twitter.

“Some shame and serious introspection are in order for the cultists who are cheering on the death of basic decency,” she added.

Ex-prime minister of Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider also condemned the chanting of slogans at Masjid-e-Nabawi and announced holding a protest against the move after Friday prayers.

Criticising former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed, Haider said "inciting people to violence is unacceptable".

"PTI supporters have lost their minds after losing their government," he said.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman condemned the incident and said Haram-e-Medina is a place of respect for the entire Muslim Ummah.

"Speaking loudly in the mosque is against Islamic etiquette," he said. "Whatever happened there today couldn't be more insulting to the holy site. Those who cannot respect the sanctity of the house of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) cannot claim to follow his teachings."

MQM-P leader and Senator Faisal Subzwari said those who were condemning Captain Safdar for chanting slogans at Mazar-e-Quaid are now celebrating the chanting of political slogans at Masjid-e-Nabawi. 

PML-N leader and Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal also denounced the incident.

Acclaimed scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel also regretted the protest that took place at the Prophet's mosque and said that disrespect to the Haram Sharif is not acceptable in Islam.

Popular Pakistani cricketer Kamran Akmal termed the incident "a very shameful act."

While sharing his experience, former national cricket team captain Mohammad Yousaf said when he had seen ‘Kaaba’ and Roza-e-Rasool for (PBUH) for the first time, he had started crying due to his emotions.

“I ask forgiveness to Allah for what has happened today at Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH),” he tweeted.

PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan also condemned the incident and called it "against the sanctity of the holy place".

Journalist Osama Bin Javaid termed the incident a "planned protest by supporters of former prime minister Imran Khan."

Pakistan Ulema Council Chairman Tahir Ashrafi has also expressed his displeasure at the unfortunate turn of events at the Masjid-e-Nabawi.

In a video statement, Ashrafi said: “A group of people disrespected the holy mosque by chanting slogans and those who were involved in this act have dishonoured the country. Muslims are supposed to lower their voices instead of chanting slogans inside a mosque".

He warned that those who had violated the laws of Muslim countries in the past are in jail and authorities have not agreed to releasing them.