Newly-appointed Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was greeted with “chor chor” (thief) slogans during his first international visit to Saudi Arabia, several videos shared on local channels show.
The video is apparently from the Masjid-e-Nabawi in Madina and was recorded on Thursday. The short clip shows hundreds of pilgrims shouting “chor chor” and holding up their mobile phones as the Pak delegation made its way.
Watch the video here:
The Pakistani delegation surrounded by people yelling “chor chor” when they made their way to Masjid-e-Nabwi in Madina.PM Shehbaz Sharif is in Saudi Arabia for a three day tour. #ShehbazSharif #SaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/aRuVmOwWrH
— The Current (@TheCurrentPK) April 28, 2022
Sharif was accompanied by top officials including Information Minister Maryam Aurangzaib and member of the National Assembly Shahzain Bugti, Pakistan news channels and portals reported.
In a report by Pakistani daily The Express Tribune, Aurangzaib blamed ousted premier Imran Khan for the protest in Saudi. "I will not name this person on this holy land because I do not want to use this land for politics. But they have destroyed the (Pakistani) society," the minister was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
However, Pakistan’s former human rights minister Shireen Mazari, had a counter.
"Imported govt of criminals brought in by US regime change conspiracy met by chants of "thieves" in Madina Sharif. I deleted the video tweeted earlier because I heard some abusive words, especially inappropriate in a place of worship. This criminal gang will be shamed by Pakistanis wherever they go,” the member of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), tweeted.
Shehbaz Sharif is on his maiden three-day visit to Saudi Arabia with a top-order delegation. The new premier is reportedly going to be seeking an additional package of $3.2 billion from Saudi as Pakistan struggles with its depleting foreign currency reserves.
No place to hide! Any remorse within the Dark Shadows now? #MarchAgainstImportedGovt— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) April 28, 2022
Sharif took over as Pakistan’s prime minister on April 11 after his predecessor cricketer-politician Imran Khan was ousted in a no-confidence vote.
