Hajj application: ‘Shia pilgrims are being discriminated against'

Ministry of Hajj to submit reply in Lahore High Court today

LAHORE: Lahore High Court on Thursday sought reply from the Ministry of Religious Affairs on a petition alleging discriminatory treatment towards Shia pilgrims.

Syed Ali Hadi filed the petition, contending the authorities at the ministry had been violating its undertaking in this regard.



Barrister Maqsooma Zahra Bokhari argued on behalf of the petitioner that Shia pilgrims continued to face discriminatory treatment at the hands of ministry officials over Hajj facilities.

She cited the requirement of a mehram for Shia women applicants as an example of the discrimination.

The counsel stated that online form for Hajj 2016, did not accept applications from any woman without a mehram.



The counsel asked the court to direct the ministry to specify and provide facilities to Shia pilgrims.

She asked the court to direct the ministry to specify a quota for Shia pilgrims to avoid discrimination in selection of Hajj applicants.

Justice Ayesha A Malik heard the arguments and directed a deputy attorney general to submit the reply of the  ministry on Friday (today).

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15^th, 2016.