Pak-Saudi ties deep-rooted, can’t be dented: Imam Ka’aba

ISLAMABAD: Imam-e-Ka’aba Sheikh Khalid al-Ghamdi on Monday said the relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were deep-rooted and time-tested and no conspiracy could dent it.
“The enemies want to hurt the Muslims by creating divisions in their ranks; therefore, it is the need of the hour that the Muslim Ummah should get united,” he said in a meeting with Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, who called on him at the Parliament House here.
Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi, ministers and a large number of parliamentarians received the Imam.After the meeting, the Imam-e-Ka’aba led the Maghrib prayers at the Parliament House.
Parliamentarians, journalists, officers and a large number of staff of the Parliament House offered prayers behind him.Dr Ghamdi offered special prayers for the progress, prosperity and development of Pakistan and also for the sovereignty and stability of Muslim Ummah.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Deputy Chairman Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony Pir Muhammad Aminul Hasnat Shah, Chairman Kashmir Committee Fazlur Rehman, MNAs Ijazul Haq, Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar and others were also present.
Earlier in a meeting with the Speaker National Assembly, Sheikh Ghamdi said deep-rooted relations between the two brotherly countries were based on strong foundations.He said parliamentarians and the people of Pakistan had great love for Harmain Sharifain as well as the Saudi government. Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said the entire Muslim Ummah, including Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain and Pakistan, were facing terrorism and extremism which had disrupted economic activities and the life of citizens.
“I think this conspiracy has been designed by our common enemies who don’t want the Islamic world to develop and be prosperous,” he said.Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said the people and the Government of Pakistan had greatest regard for Saudi Arabia and they will never tolerate any aggression against the country.
“We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the protection of Harmain Sharifain” the speaker assured. He said relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were deep-rooted and the same level of relationship existed between the peoples of both countries.
Earlier, the Imam-e-Ka’aba witnessed the proceedings of the National Assembly.Welcoming the Imam-e-Ka’aba, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said it was an honour for the Pakistanis that the Imam was visiting their country.
He said the government and the people of Pakistan had welcomed the Imam wherever he went during his current visit.He said the Imam-e-Ka’aba would lead the coming Friday prayers at the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.
Fazlur Rehman welcomed Sheikh Khalid al-Ghamdi and assured him that the people of Pakistan would stand by Saudi Arabia in this hour of trial.PPP legislator Abdul Sattar Bachani, Dr Arif Alvi of PTI and Abdul Wasim of MQM welcomed the visiting Imam-e-Ka’aba and said Pakistan will always stand by Saudi Arabia in the hour of trial.