Express Tribune: Pakistan’s mission in Jeddah had to pay 19,500 riyals (Rs472,660) in religious fine to the Saudi Arabian authorities in 2007 because then-prime minister and his elaborate entourage had violated a basic and widely-known Shariah condition while performing Umrah, The Express Tribune has learnt.

According to Islamic Shariah, it is mandatory for every male intending pilgrim to wear Ahram (traditional white, unstitched robe consisting of two sheets) before entering the geographical limits of Meeqat, Kaabah, while performing Umrah.

However, if a pilgrim performs Umrah, and does Tawaf-e-Kaabah (circumambulation of the Kaabah) without wearing Ahram after crossing into Meeqat, will be liable to slaughter a goat or pay its price to the poor as fine (damm).

Official documents reveal that former premier Shaukat Aziz and his entire 50-member delegation violated this Shariah tenet while circumambulating the Kaabah during their Umrah in 2007.

While performing Umrah, it’s mandatory for the pilgrims to circumabulate the Kaabah seven times anti-clockwise.

Ironically, neither Premier Aziz nor any member of his delegation knew about the Ahram condition and were hence fined for violating the Shariah tenet.

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