Unexplained levy: LHC seeks religious affairs ministry’s reply

Petitioner says Hajj Tour Operators collected Rs28,000 from pilgrims as ‘ministry charges’.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court sought on Friday a reply from the religious affairs ministry on a petition seeking details of an amount of Rs28,000 received from pilgrims by Hajj Tour Operators as ministry charges.

The petition, filed by Advocate Azhar Siddique, says that operators claimed that the charge was levied by the ministry but no details or reasons were provided to pilgrims. “It is the people’s right, especially the pilgrims’, to know about the usage or reasons behind a payment they make.” He has requested that the ministry be directed to disclose the details and reasons.

The petitioner said that throughout the world, expenses for religious rites had been decreased but in Pakistan, this had become an industry. “Hajj will become cheaper if the Rs28,000 levy is removed.”

After hearing the initial arguments, LHC Chief Justice Shaikh Azmat Saeed directed the ministry to submit a reply within ten days.