Amid tight security and unprecedented protocol, President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday left for Saudi Arabia to perform haj.
Roads leading to the Presidency across the Red Zone were blocked and the APCs, with heavy contingent of paramilitary forces had been deployed to provide security for the family of the president.
The roads remained closed for quite some time, leaving long queues of vehicles and motorists waiting for around an hour for clearance.
Giving details of the visit, Press Secretary to the President Saba Mohsin Raza said the President along with his family members proceeded to Saudi Arabia to perform haj.
“All the expenses on his travel and that of his family members are being borne by the president himself,” said an official statement.
However, there was no mention of the number of family members accompanying the president.
Mamnoon, in past, has kept a low profile and during his brief stint as Sindh governor, he had also remained in low key. However, his family visit and high profile security measures raised many eyebrows in the federal capital.