Pak Denies Visa To Kerala Man who traveled 8640 km on foot for Haj 2023
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A Kerala man’s dream to travel 8,640 km to Mecca on foot to perform Hajj next year has come true after the Pakistan government denied him a visa.
Shahi Imam of Punjab Maulana Mohammad Usman Ludhianvi said that Pakistan government is denying visa to Shihab Chhottur.
“Embassy of Pakistan in Delhi first assured visa to Shihab Chhottur. The embassy said that the visa will expire if given in advance. So the visa will be issued as soon as he arrives at the border,” he said.
Shahi Imam said when Shihab Chattoor reached the Wagah border after walking about 3,000 kilometers, the Pakistan government withdrew the assurance and denied him a visa.
Maulana Usman has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded that New Delhi help Shihab Chhottur to go to Makkah through China instead of Pakistan.
Shihab Chottur, who runs a supermarket, set out on the journey from Atavanad near Kottakkal in Malappuram district in Kerala. Every day, he walks at least 25 km.
He will travel to India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Kuwait before arriving in Makkah for Hajj in 2023 and finally reaching Saudi Arabia sometime in early February 2023, according to media reports.
Shihab Chattoor has covered 3000 kilometers in 124 days, currently Shihab is in Khasa, Punjab near Wagah border and reached Punjab on 7 September 2022.
After arriving in Saudi Arabia, he will apply for Hajj and plans to cover the entire distance in 280 days.
Media reports state that Shihab grew up hearing stories of people traveling from Kerala to the holy land of Mecca in ancient times, making it his lifelong dream to walk to Mecca.
According to media reports, it was Shihab’s mother’s support and encouragement that prompted him to undertake the trip. His wife and other family members also supported him a lot.
It is reported that research and preparation for the trip took about nine months, and the most difficult part was preparing the visa documents for their journey on foot.
Shihab is getting a rousing reception as a large number of people pass through the states to welcome him and catch a glimpse of him
