Hajj arrangements draw Senate panel's ire

A Senate standing committee on Thursday came down hard on the Ministry of Religious Affairs over poor Hajj arrangements as members alleged that pilgrims were "exploited" and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was misled about the quality of the operation.

The committee summoned the Director General of the Pakistan Haj Mission, Abdul Wahab Soomro, to appear at its next meeting and explain the complaints.

The Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, chaired by Senator Maulana Ataur Rehman, also decided to consider moving a privilege motion against the DG over his alleged conduct towards the committee chairman.

Senators insisted that Somroo must either appear before the committee or answer its questions in person.

Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs informed the committee that the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) had already given its opinion on the matter. The chairman directed that representatives of the council be invited to the next meeting to present their views.

During a briefing on Hajj 2026 operations, the Hajj coordinator in Makkah informed the committee that 12,479 complaints had been received during this year's pilgrimage.

The official acknowledged shortcomings in accommodation. "We admit there were issues with accommodation during Hajj, although some complaints related to the structural condition of buildings."