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Pakistan House to be set up at Karbala
Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejazul Haq has said that Pakistan will soon construct Pakistan House for zaireen (pilgrims), at Karbala, Iraq.
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Speaking to IRNA he said that Pakistan House would also comprise a hospital, besides other facilities for Pakistani Zaireen, visiting Iraq's holy shrines. He added that the foundation stone laying would be performed during the ruling Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain's visit to Iraq after December parliamentary elections there.

The minister, Chaudhry Shujaat, he (Ejaz) and PML Secretary General Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed had been invited by prominent Iraqi leader Hojjatul Islam Jafar Al-Hakim during his meetings with these leaders early this week in Pakistan. Ejaz pointed out that with peace and normalcy returning to all parts of Iraq, the number of zaireeen was expected to increase manifold, necessitating construction of facilities at Karbala.

Zaireen from all across the Muslim world, including Pakistan throng the mausoleums of Hazrat Ali (AS), Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), Hazrat Abbas (AS) and other noble members of the household of Hazrat Mohammad Peace Be Upon Him, and devoted followers of the Ahle Bait (AS).

To a question, the minister said that the piece of land was purchased by late Raja Sahib Mehmoodabad, a key worker of the Pakistan Movement. However, this land was grabbed by Saddam Hussain and has been retrieved back after his fall. He pointed out the Karachi-based Khamees Trust, Pakistan, will construct the Pakistan House and take care of it, as the land had been given to it on lease for 30 years.
Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-08-28
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=127948