Neglect at Mina

The failure of our embassy in Saudi Arabia to retrieve and dispatch bodies of the pilgrims who lost their lives during the Mina stampede is highly condemnable, and a question mark on their performance. Similarly, officials of the Haj Directorate, whose main duty is to help and guide pilgrims during an emergency could not even get access to hospitals and morgues to identify the injured and the dead.
The Saudi authorities are reported to have buried the corpses in collective graves. The religious affairs ministry is requested to take up this matter with the Saudi authorities and demand compensation for each bereaved family.
Hassan Afzaal
Karachi