IHC takes up pleas challenging Hajj quota

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) took up petitions on Tuesday challenging the distribution of private Hajj quotas. A group of tour operators withdrew from the case, claiming their names had been included without approval.

Justice Muhammad Azam Khan issued notices to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and other respondents after initial arguments contending that the allocation of quotas through Hajj Organizers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) was unlawful. The judge later issued a written order.

Some 12 operators filed separate applications to withdraw from the case, telling the court their names had been added without their consent or knowledge.

Read: Only 3,500 seats remain in Hajj quota

Represented by Advocate Chaudhry Usama Tariq, they asked the court to strike their names from the list of petitioners. The court accepted their requests.

Earlier, petitioners’ lawyers argued that the federal government was violating the Hajj and Umrah Regulations Act 2024. They sought restoration of private Hajj quota to 50 percent, priority for pilgrims who missed out in 2025 for the 2026 pilgrimage, and exclusion of HOAP from administrative matters.

Advocates Sheikh Khizer Rasheed and Shaheena Shahab appeared on behalf of the petitioners. They argued that the government’s quota distribution mechanism lacked legality and transparency.

The court has directed all respondents to submit written replies before the next hearing.