Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah received at his palace here Saturday a large number of citizens who came to greet him including Habba bin Salim Al-Najrani, who pardoned the killer of his daughter Huda.

Addressing the reception at Al-Salam Palace, King Abdullah highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing strength and glory.

He said: “My brothers and sons, I thank you all for coming. I pray to Allah that He may bless you all in this holy month and accept your fasting and prayers.

“This country of ours is making greater progress to gain its right position in the comity of nations.”

Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, prominent princes, senior religious scholars and military and civilian officers attended the ceremony.

During the function, Al-Najrani announced he has pardoned Mulfi bin Mubarak Al-Douh, killer of his daughter Huda, in front of the king who conveyed his condolences to the relatives of Huda and thanked Al-Najrani for his humanitarian gesture.

Earlier, Hatim Al-Marzouki, a member of the Shoura Council, commended King Abdullah’s efforts in the service of Islam and Muslims all over the world as well as to boost the progress and prosperity of Saudi citizens.

He also referred to King Abdul Aziz’s endeavors to unify the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is the first independent state in the Arabian Peninsula. He said: “It was the most successful unification endeavor in the Arab world.”

In another development, King Abdullah has instructed Saudi officials to host 2,000 relatives of Palestinian martyrs and prisoners.

Palestinian Endowment and Religious Affairs Minister Mahmoud Al-Habbash thanked the king for the gesture, adding that it would contribute to alleviating the pain of martyrs’ relatives.

Abdunnaser Farwana, a senior official at the Palestinian Ministry of Prisoners, commended King Abdullah’s support for the Palestinian cause at political, financial and humanitarian levels.

Farwana said: “I have received letters from the families of 4,700 Palestinians in Israeli jails expressing their happiness over the king’s directive.”

He said this is the fourth consecutive year King Abdullah is hosting relatives of Palestinian martyrs and prisoners for Haj at his own expense. All Palestinians are thankful to the king for this gesture, he added.

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Salman held talks with Pakistani military attaché Brig. Hassan Jaleel Shah at his office in Jeddah on Sunday and discussed issues of mutual concern.

He also met with Iraqi Ambassador Ghanim Jameeli and reviewed bilateral relations.