Hundreds of zaireen, including women and children, are stranded in Quetta following a federal government ban on land travel to Iran and Iraq.

The ban, implemented ahead of the Arbaeen pilgrimage, has sparked protests from those intending to travel to Karbala for religious observance, scheduled for August 14 and 15.

On Sunday night, five buses carrying a large number of pilgrims arrived in Quetta. Facing the travel ban, they staged a protest at Shuhada Chowk, blocking the main road and chanting slogans against the government.

The protesters, joined by leaders of the Balochistan Shia Conference, emphasized their intention to reach Karbala and their rejection of the land route ban.

They argued that the government’s suggested alternative—air travel—is prohibitively expensive for most intending pilgrims. Balochistan government spokesman, Shahid Rind, confirmed the federal ban, stating that the provincial government had been informed of the decision.