Pakistan - '' After the #HajjStampede''

Fudged numbers, delayed responses, too many still missing and glaring governmental negligence. — this is the aftermath of the Mina tragedy in which more than 1,000 hajjis (pilgrims) were crushed to death in a stampede during the holy pilgrimage. The Saudi authorities placed the number of dead at somewhere around 750 but a new tally (without Saudi help and cooperation) puts the number at over the 1,400 mark, making it the deadliest incident to mark the monumental hajj event. One of the most undeniable facts has been the complete and utter disdain with which the Saudi authorities have handled the situation. There has been no proper official inquiry into the reasons behind the stampede. Many reports suggest that it was the VIP movement of a Saudi royal that caused chaos and confusion amongst the pulsating mass of pilgrims. Some cite the fact that there were too many pilgrims in that small, compact space at one time. Whatever the reason, the Saudis seem hesitant to offer any answers.

And what about our government, what is it doing to calm the families of the many missing and to ask the Saudi royals to expedite the matter? So far, all that we have heard is that it is unacceptable to criticise ‘friendly countries’, and we all know what that means. The callousness with which the PML-N government is behaving makes the cold attitude of the Saudis pale in comparison. Have any arrangements been made to bring back the bodies of the Pakistanis who died in the Mina stampede? Is any inquiry being held to find out exactly how many Pakistanis are still missing? We hear our authorities talk about the declaration that all hajjis sign before going on the pilgrimage, which absolves the host country of any responsibility if a hajji should die during the holy event. That declaration does not cover catastrophic incidents such as this stampede, which was definitely caused by someone’s negligence.

The offhanded manner with which this entire incident is being handled speaks of disregard and heartlessness where common Pakistanis are concerned. That is what hajj this year has left us with: many dead, many still missing and a government too thoughtless to care.