MAKKAH: Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa performed Hajj this week, a short video that went viral on social media was the only source of information about his performing the spiritual rites on Thursday. Nothing said about his tour from ISPR or Information Department of Pakistan Government.
In the video, the army chief dressed in white shalwar kameez can be seen meeting Pakistani pilgrims and asking them to “pray for Pakistan”. As soon as the pilgrims spotted Gen Bajwa, they surrounded him and took selfies with him.
General Bajwa Sunday mingled with Hajj pilgrims at the Holy Kaaba where a number of Pakistanis took pictures with him. The army chief surrounded by the pilgrims as they rushed to take selfies with the top-ranking military official.
During his interaction, COAS Bajwa asked pilgrims to pray for Pakistan’s prosperity. In response to the army chief’s request for prayers for Pakistan, the people said: “May God grant you a long life.”
In the video, Gen Bajwa can be seen meeting people without any protocol and allowing them to take pictures with him.
Prominent Pakistani personalities, including JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PPP leader Sharmila Farooqui, and cricketer Shoaib Akhtar, are also in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.
Prime Minister’s Special Representative for Interfaith Harmony Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi also tweeted the video of the army chief with a caption: “The love and affection of the Muslims of Pakistan and the world for General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Commander-in-Chief of the nation.”
He also lauded the Saudi government for making elaborate Hajj arrangements and optimum facilities provided to pilgrims.
Ashrafi, who also performed Hajj this year, said in a statement that the pilgrims hailing from across the world reached the Rami Al Jamarat in discipline and organised manners due to the security and Crowd Management System introduced by the Saudi government.