Hajj policy 2011: 'LHC verdict to affect 90,000 applicants'

Babar Awan says ban on registration of new tour operators violation of certain clauses of constitution.

ISLAMABAD: Dr Babar Awan, counsel for federation, on Tuesday said the Lahore High Court’s verdict declaring Hajj Policy 2011 null and void will affect 90,000 applicants.

A Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Javed Iqbal, was hearing a petition against the LHC verdict in Islamabad.

The petitioners pleaded the LHC verdict is based on the premise that it is unfair to register fresh Hajj tour operators.

Awan argued that private operators facilitate applicants. He said a ban on the registration of new tour operators is a violation of certain clauses of the constitution.

The hearing has been adjourned till tomorrow.

As many as 17 petitioners filed petitions on June 6 under Article 185(3) of the Constitution to appeal in the Supreme Court against the LHC’s directive for the registration of new private Hajj tour operators.

The LHC on June 6 declared the government’s Hajj Policy for 2011 illegal, cancelled the quota allotted to 650 tour operators and asked the ministry to register eligible operators.