Pakistan, July 29 -- The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Monday criticised the federal government's move to ban Pakistani piligims from travelling to Iran and Iraq by road.

On Sunday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that zaireen (pilgrims) will be barred from travelling by road to Iran and Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage due to public and national security.

PPP leader Hassan Murtaza issued a statement today, saying: "The federal and provincial governments should ensure the safety of pilgrims with the help of security agencies."

The state was responsible for the security of travellers, he added.

He criticised the ban, stating that it will severely affect the common man. "Why can't a common man, who pays taxes to the state, travel b...