Pakistan denies the authenticity of the statement attributed to the Minister of Religious Affairs about the disappearance of 50,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Iraq:

A certain section of the media has carried a news story recently alledging Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Chaudhry Salik Hussain made a statement in a Senate committee meeting about the disappearnce of 50,000 (Zaireen) Pakistanis in Iraq during pilgrimage is entirely false and misleading.
It may be clearly underscored that the federal minister never gave any such statement.
Moreover, it is clarified that the intending pilgrims organize their travel to Iraq for ziarat through private operators. Efforts are underway to improve the process of facilitation.