Hajj quota allotment process begun, LHC told

Director Hajj tells the court that the process would be completed in 24 hours.

LAHORE:

The director of Hajj on Wednesday informed the Lahore High Court that the process of allotting the quota of 190 pilgrims to the four eligible Hajj tour operators has started and would be completed within the next 24 hours.

Appearing before the LHC Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial in a contempt of court petition against Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Shah, the director Hajj submitted that in compliance of the court orders, the quota of pilgrims has been allotted to the four tour operators that had deposited Rs500,000 security each. Justice Bandial directed him to submit a detailed report before the court on Thursday (today) about allotment of the quota.

Khurshid Shah appearing before the court on Tuesday had undertaken that the quota would be allotted within 24 hours.

Different tour operators through Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique had complained against the “unjust distribution” of Hajj quota among private tour operators. They alleged that the religious affairs ministry dishes out the quota on personal likes and dislikes.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2012.