Foreign leaders arrive to spend last days of Ramadan

RIYADH: A numbers of heads of government from various Muslim countries arrived to perform Umrah and to spend the last leg of Ramadan in Makkah and Madinah.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived along with his family on Saturday night to perform Umrah as well as spend the remaining days of the holy month in the two holy cities.
Pakistani Ambassador Manzoor ul Haq, who joined Prince Mishaal bin Majed, Governor of Jeddah, at King Abdulaziz International Airport to receive the premier, told Arab News on Sunday: “The prime minister arrived last night on a religious family trip and will perform Umrah.”
When asked if the Pakistani premier also joined the funeral prayer for former Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, which coincided with his arrival in the Kingdom, he said, “No, his flight came after the funeral prayer.” Minister of Religious Affairs Sardar Mohammed Yousuf, who is currently visiting the Kingdom to perform Umrah, represented Pakistan, he said.
Sudanese President Omar Bashir also arrived on Saturday in Madinah and visited the Prophet’s Mosque. He will perform Umrah later, a Sudanese Embassy official said.
He, however, could not attend the funeral prayer for Prince Saud and was represented by Sudanese Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour on Saturday night at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, emir of Qatar, performed Umrah on Wednesday, Ramadan 21.
Earlier, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain arrived at the beginning of Ramadan on a private trip with his family to perform Umrah. The foreign leaders lauded the services rendered by the Kingdom for the guests of God and praised the ongoing major expansion works at the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah.