Stranded pilgrims reach metropolis

Thirty seven Pakistani pilgrims, who were stranded at Baghdad Airport for over 24 hours, have been deported back to the metropolitan without being granted the permission by the Iraqi authorities to visit Ziyarat.
According to details, the pilgrims went to Iraq for visiting holy shrines in that country, but the airport authority did not allow them to enter Baghdad city after which they remained trapped at the airport for more than 24 hours. On hearing the news, the Pakistani embassy made strenuous efforts for the release of the pilgrims including 14 women and two children. They were later deported to their respective country from the airport.
Talking to media persons on arriving here, the pilgrims said that they were clueless as to why the Iraqi authorities did not allow them to visit shrines in Baghdad. They said that the Pakistani embassy repeatedly assured the Iraqi authorities that the pilgrims may be allowed to visit the shrines as they were common civilians, but each time they received blunt refusals from the authorities concerned.