40 Days On: Fate of Pakistani Cleric Allama Wajdani in Saudi Arabia Remains Unknown

Over 40 days have passed since the puzzling arrest and subsequent disappearance of Allama Ghulam Hasnain Wajdani, the revered Friday Imam of Quetta, at Taif Airport in Saudi Arabia. Allama Wajdani, a prominent cleric originally from Nagar Khas, Gilgit-Baltistan, was detained by Saudi authorities on April 20, 2025, upon his return from performing Umrah.

According to reports, Allama Ghulam Hasnain Wajdani was in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah when he was arrested by Saudi authorities and moved to an undisclosed location. There has been no information about him since his arrest.

Allama Wajdani was taken to an undisclosed location following his arrest, and no information regarding his whereabouts or the reasons for his detention has been released by Saudi authorities since. The lack of communication has sparked significant concern among his family, followers, and the broader community in Pakistan.

Despite the passage of more than six weeks, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia have reportedly yet to take any concrete or practical steps to secure his release or even ascertain his condition. This perceived inaction has led to growing disquiet and calls for immediate intervention from the Pakistani government.

Allama Ghulam Hasnain Wajdani is a well-known religious figure in Pakistan, and his unexplained arrest in a foreign country has cast a shadow of uncertainty and worry over his well-being. The community in Quetta and Gilgit-Baltistan is anxiously awaiting news and demanding that the Pakistani government prioritize his safe return.