Kerala man’s dream to cover an 8,640 km journey on foot to Makkah to perform Haj next year has come a cropper after the Pakistani government refused to grant him a visa.
Shahi Imam of Punjab Maulana Mohammad Usman Ludhianvi said Shihab Chottur is being denied a visa by the Pakistan government.
“The Embassy of Pakistan in Delhi first assured visa to Shihab Chottur. The Embassy said the visa would expire if given in advance. So the visa would be issued as soon as he arrives at the border,” he said.
Shahi Imam said when Shihab Chottur reached close to the Wagah border after walking about 3,000 kilometers, the Pakistani government retracted the promise and denied the visa.
Maulana Usman has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and demanded that New Delhi help Shihab Chottur to go to Makkah via China instead of Pakistan.
Shihab Chottur, who runs a supermarket, set off on his journey from Athavanad, near Kottakkal, in Malappuram district, Kerala. Every day, he walks at least 25 km.
Media reports said he will reach Makkah for Haj in 2023 after traversing India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait, and will finally reach Saudi Arabia sometime in early February 2023.
Shihab Chottur has walked 3000 kilometers in 124 days, Currently, Shihab is in Khasa, Punjab near the Wagah border and he reached Punjab on September 7, 2022.
He will apply for the Haj pilgrimage after he arrives in Saudi Arabia and plans to cover the entire distance in 280 days.
Media reports said Shihab grew up hearing stories of people traveling from Kerala to the holy land of Makkah on foot during ancient times which made it his life’s dream to walk to Makkah.
As per media reports, Shihab’s mother’s support and encouragement are what drove him to take the trip. His wife and other family members were also very supportive.
It is reported that research and preparations for the journey took around nine months and the most difficult part was getting the visa papers ready for their journey on foot.
Shihab has been getting a rousing welcome as he passes through states with a large number of people thronging roads to greet him and catch a glimpse of him.
