Saudi Arabia has dismissed Qatar's allegations that its citizens were made to suffer difficulties as they went to perform Umrah.
“Form the first day of the decision to boycott Qatar, cutting all diplomatic and consular ties, Saudi Arabia ensured that the process of pilgrimage for Umrah and Hajj would be completely facilitated for Qatari nationals in accordance with procedures organized by the relevant authorities”, said the Saudi Embassy in Pakistan.
The embassy issued a statement in response to erroneous reports circulated in the Pakistani media, claiming that Qatari nationals are being barred from performing the Umrah in Saudi Arabia.
The statement dismissed the false reports as being allegations spread by the Government of Qatar, stressed the negative stance of Doha authorities, which prevented its citizens from performing the Haj and Umbrah in an attempt to mediatise the crisis it had caused.
“The allegations cited in the statement, which was issued by the Qatari Embassy in Islamabad, is but a desperate attempt to hold Saudi Arabia responsible for the inability of the Qatari pilgrims to perform the Umrah”, said the Saudi statement.
The statement described the reports in local Pakistani media as being inaccurate, reiterating the official stance of Riyadh, which welcomes all Qatari nationals to perform the Umrah.
Saudi Arabia has already welcomed a number of Qatari nationals, who arrived via King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and provided them all facilities to perform the Umrah, alongside pilgrims from all the world.
The embassy urged the media in Pakistan to observe accuracy and credibility and pay no heed to the Qatari Government’s allegations
Meanwhile Sheikh Sultan bin Suhaim, the son of Sheikh Suhaim bin Hamad bin Abdullah al-Thani who was a member of the ruling family of Qatar and served as the country’s first foreign minister, said that Qatar bans its citizens from performing Hajj and Umrah.
On his official Twitter account on Friday, Shaikh Sultan said: “While our older brother rises above political differences and opens its doors and heart to our people to perform Umrah, The Hamad regime insists on banning them from visiting the House of God… All so that their alibi as victims can continue. What a sin you have done in front of God.” In another tweet, Shaikh Sultan said that the Qatari regime will pay for this act.