“The authenticity of videos being circulated on social media in this regard could not be verified. Even their date and year could also not be confirmed,”: said DG (PHM) Abdul Wahab Soomro         Muslim pilgrims gather to perform the farewell circumambulation or "tawaf", at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah on June 18, 2024, at the end of the annual hajj pilgrimage. — AFP

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Wednesday urged the public to rely on credible sources for accurate information and to disregard baseless rumours circulating on social media about the Haj pilgrims.

Director General of Pakistan Haj Mission (PHM) Abdul Wahab Soomro, in a statement, dismissed the rumours that the Pakistani pilgrims were being left helpless in the Mashair during the pilgrimage.

“The authenticity of videos being circulated on social media in this regard could not be verified. Even their date and year could also not be confirmed,” he added.

Soomro said that the PHM relied on information provided by the Saudi government, which was later verified by the Mission itself. “As of 4 pm on June 18, a total of nine deaths of Pakistanis had occurred in Mashair, with four in Mina, three in Arafat and two in Muzdalifah,” he added.

He said that Haj this year was challenging due to extreme heat and harsh weather conditions, with temperatures reaching 50°C. “The mission receives reports of deaths and verifies them before taking any action.”

The Saudi government, he said, had set up a system for burials and funeral prayers in Haramain, and arrangements were also made to send the dead body of a pilgrim to Pakistan if the heirs demanded so.