Hajj Quota: LHC stays hajj applications ,for now

Petitioners claim government back dated allotments of quota for arbitrary allocation. Next hearing on May 9.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday, after hearing arguments from tour operators, restrained the Ministry of Religious Affairs and tour operators from receiving any application for Hajj.

On May 2, as many as 21 private tour operators had filed a petition claiming unjust distribution of Pakistan’s Hajj quota. The LHC Chief Justice, Justice Umar Ata Bandial had subsequently issued a stay order against allocation of Hajj quota on violation of Hajj policy 2012. However, the Ministry issued the quota to the tour operators in back dates, violating rules.

The petitioners had contended that this act of the ministry was based on malafide and the court might issue a stay order. The court subsequently stayed allocation of Hajj quota among previously registered Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs) and sought a detailed reply from the ministry.

He had fixed May 9 as date of hearing.

The petitioners through their counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddique submitted that due to unjust distribution of Hajj quota to private tour operators it had become impossible for the common man to bear Hajj expenses. They said Hajj policy 2012 has been announced and a plan has been hatched to dish out quota arbitrarily, rather than through a transparent system.

The petitioners contended, that as per the precedent set through a Supreme Court order on July 7, 2011, the government was asked to observe transparency in formulating the Hajj policy for 2012.

Siddique said that last year, cabinet had approved the hajj policy on April 15 and the same practice was repeated this year so that the Ministry of Religious Affairs could make the plea that quota had already been distributed and it would be highly improper to disturb hajj policy at this belated stage.

They said last year ministry and 721 tour operators had pleaded that money had been received from pilgrims and their lists had been sent to Saudi Arabia. The petitioners stated that the ministry was again giving quota to these tour operators and the door had been closed for new operators. They said new tour operators had been asked to deposit Rs0.3 million each while the same had not been demanded from previous operators.