Hajj quotas: Minister, secy to submit replies by 15th

Earlier court had directed the ministry to award quota of 5,000 pilgrims to newly registered tour operators.

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Monday issued notices to the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Shah, Secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Azam Samma and others on a contempt of court petition. The petition was filed by a private Hajj tour operator saying that on June 6, 2012 the court had directed the ministry to award quota of 5,000 pilgrims to newly registered tour operators. However, he alleged, that the respondent ministry in connivance with old tour operators had decided not to allocate quota to new operators. Petitioner’s counsel Azhar Siddique argued that the federal minister had also issued a statement on July 30 that quota could not be allocated to new Hajj tour operators as old organisers had completed their homework. He said the secretary had also made a similar statement.  The counsel said these statements amounted to contempt of court. The CJ sought replies from the respondents by August 15.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 7^th, 2012.