PAKISTAN: SACRED RELICS EXHIBITION

Headline

10- Days’ exhibition of sacred relics begins in Islamabad Mall

Intro

Pakistani Religious Affairs Minister inaugurates exhibition of ‘Ghilaf-e-Kaaba’ and some other Islamic relics at Islamabad’s Centaurus Mall.

Story

Shotlist:   ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN  (JUNE  24 , 2020)    (VNA  – ACCESS ALL)
1. RELICS ON DISPLAY

2. GHILAF-E-KAABA

3. QURANIC VERSE ENGRAVED ON WOODEN PANEL

4. VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS UNFOLDING  ‘GHILAF-E-KAABA’ (COVER OF THE HOLY KA’ABA)  / SPREADING  IT ON TABLE

5.  PAKISTAN FEDERAL MINISTER FOR RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS,  NOOR-UL-HAQ QADRI (WEARING WHITE TURBAN),  ARRIVING

6. QADRI CUTTING RIBBON TO OPEN THE EXHIBITION

7. VARIOUS OF QADRI GOING AROUND LOOKING AT SACRED RELICS

8. QURANIC VERSE ON WOODEN PANEL

9. VARIOUS OF QADRI LOOKING AT SACRED RELICS

10. QADRI BEING OFFERED AAB-E-ZAMZAM 

11. GUESTS DRINKING AAB- E- ZAMZAM

12. QADRI ADDRESSING GUESTS

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTAN FEDERAL MINISTER FOR RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS,  NOOR-UL-HAQ QADRI,   SAYING:
“We have been in constant touch about Haj with the Saudi government ever since the corona virus spread in March.  I have had several detailed discussions with the Saudi Minister of Haj/ Umrah. A couple of days back, they made a final decision that they have to limit Haj this year, and only a limited number of Saudi nationality holders living in Saudi Arabia will perform haj. Other countries will be allowed to send a Representative to perform Haj on their behalf. Special representation will be given to all nationalities from countries who normally come to perform Haj.  Between 10,000 -15,000 people will perform Haj under strict SOPs.”
5. SACRED RELICS.
6.(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTAN FEDERAL MINISTER FOR RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS,  NOOR-UL-HAQ QADRI,   SAYING:
“Saudi Minister for Haj and Umrah Dr. Saleh Benten talked to me five six hours  before they announced this decision. He asked me if we wanted to add anything to their decision. I told him: ‘ We will stand by your decision, and will support it because you are the host country, and any decision of yours will be acceptable to us. God willing we will stand with them.”
7 DOOR OF KHANA KA’ABA..
8.(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu)  PAKISTAN’S FEDERAL MINISTER FOR RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS, NOOR-UL-HAQ QADRI, SAYING:
“Those people who had a desire and longing to go to Khana Ka’aba will get a glimpse of it here in this exhibition. This type of exhibitions are not only a source of peace for our souls and hearts but is also a means of keeping the Pakistani nation abreast of our Islamic background and Islamic ideology.”    

9. VARIOUS OF QADRI AND GUESTS PRAYING WITH RAISED HANDS

10. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE KISSING ‘GHILAF-E-KAABA’ (COVER OF THE HOLY KA’ABA)

11. VARIOUS OF RELICS

 

STORY:  Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Noor ul Haq Qadri, on Wednesday (June 24) formally inaugurated an exhibition of the ‘Ghilaf-e-Kaaba’ (cover of the holy Ka’aba)  and some other Islamic relics at the Centaurus Mall in Islamabad.

According to the organizers of the exhibition, it is a unique opportunity for the people to view the ‘Ghilaf-e-Kaaba’ and other Islamic relics at a time when pilgrimages to the holy land have been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

On  Monday (June 22) , Saudi Arabia announced a bar on all pilgrims from abroad for Hajj this year due to the coronavirus, allowing only a limited number of Saudi citizens and residents to make the pilgrimage with social distancing measures enforced.

Qadri said the Saudi authorities had discussed the measures with him.

 

“We have been in constant touch about Haj with the Saudi government ever since the corona virus spread in March.  I have had several detailed discussions with the Saudi Minister of Haj/ Umrah. A couple of days back, they made a final decision that they have to limit Haj this year, and only a limited number of Saudi nationality holders living in Saudi Arabia will perform haj. Other countries will be allowed to send a Representative to perform Haj on their behalf. Special representation will be given to all nationalities from countries who normally come to perform Haj.  Between 10,000 -15,000 people will perform Haj under strict SOPs,” Qadri told reporters after inaugurating the exhibition.


The announcement means this will be the first year in modern times that Muslims from around the world will not be allowed to make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, which all Muslims aim to perform at least once in a lifetime.


“Saudi Minister for Haj and Umrah Dr. Saleh Benten talked to me five six hours  before they announced this decision. He asked me if we wanted to add anything to their decision. I told him: ‘ We will stand by your decision, and will support it because you are the host country, and any decision of yours will be acceptable to us. God willing we will stand with them,” Qadri said.

 

Qadri said people who had planned to go for Hajj or were desirous of visiting the holy sites would get some satisfaction from visiting the exhibition and seeing the relics.


Pakistan has recorded 188,926 infections and 3,755 deaths in the virus pandemic, with a big spike in reported cases over the last month.

The Centaurus management  said they made special arrangements to observe all government SOPs for the protection of visitors from coronavirus.

 

The exhibition will be open for the public till July 3.