Panel recommends annual hajj quota for MNAs

Suggests sending delegation to offer salutations to Holy Prophet (PBUH

ISLAMABAD:

The parliamentary panel has proposed that each MNA be allowed to nominate ten people for Hajj every year. It has also suggested sending a ten-member delegation to Madinah on an official visit every year to offer salutations at the Holy Prophet's (PBUH) mosque.

A meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs was held on Monday under the chairpersonship of MNA Shagufta Jamani.

During the meeting, the committee recommended that a 10-member parliamentary delegation be sent at government expense to present salutations at Roza-e-Rasool (PBUH). The official delegation will also offer nawafil at Masjid-e-Nabvi and will offer salutations on behalf of the Pakistani nation.

It was stated that such delegations have previously visited to convey salutations on behalf of the people, and in the future as well, a parliamentary delegation will travel to Madinah and Makkah every year.

Family members of the delegation members may also accompany them. The delegation, on behalf of the public, will perform Umrah in Makkah. In the absence of the NA speaker, the committee chairperson will lead the delegation, while the speaker will nominate the members of the delegation.

The chairperson of the committee said the speaker takes delegations of 15 members each, and that the expenses of this parliamentary delegation should be borne by the National Assembly.

She added that if members were to bear the expenses themselves, it could not be called a delegation, as they could travel privately at any time. "We want the National Assembly to bear these expenses," she said. Committee members endorsed the view of Shagufta Jamani.