Prince Karim Aga Khan visits Chitral

CHITRAL: Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th Imam of the Shia Ismaili community, visited Chitral district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on Saturday.

Thousands of devotees came to listen to the spiritual leader at Garam Chashma and Boni, where he addressed his followers.

Prince Karim arrived in Islamabad on an official visit to the country on the invitation of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday. Minister for Foreign Affairs Khowaja Mohammad Asif, Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Islamabad Mayor Sheikh Anser Aziz received him at the airport.

The prince arrived at Chitral valley three hours after he was due to arrive due to weather conditions. He had earlier been scheduled to arrive in a C-130 plane from Islamabad but came on a helicopter of Aga Khan Foundation.

At Chitral airport, he was welcomed by Member of National Assembly (MNA) Iftikharuddin, District Nazim Maghfirat Shah, Malakand’s Commissioner Zaheerul Islam, Regional Police Officer Akhtar Hayat and Chitral Task Force Commandant Colonel Moinuddin.

Special arrangements had been made at Garam Chashma and Boni to accommodate 60,000 and 80,000 people, respectively, who had gathered from different areas to see their 49th Imam.

Addressing his followers, Prince Karim said that peace and law and order were necessary for the region’s progress.

“Islam is the religion of peace and love, and we should give priority to these aspects over all other things,” he said.

At the airport, Chitral nazim briefed him on the area’s issues and highlighted the importance of establishing both air and road links between Chitral and Khorugh area of Tajikistan. He said that these arrangements were very important for the progress of the area.

Prince Karim said that Chitral held a special place in his heart and that he was well aware of the issues of the area. The prince later stayed the night at the valley.