Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs to resolve the matter of awarding Hajj quotas on merit.
The court adjourned the hearing till September 10.
CJ Bandial remarked that courts intervene in executive affairs when it fails to fulfill its duties.
He said courts are accused of crossing the limits.
He said the ministry appeared to be focusing on making money instead of making transparent policies.
The chief justice gave the remarks while holding the proceedings on a petition by different tour operators accusing the Ministry of Religious Affairs of not distributing Hajj quota on merit.
During the hearing, petitioner’s counsel Advocate Mohammad Azhar Siddique said the ministry was not giving Hajj quotas to his clients despite court orders to the effect.
Earlier, the petitioners had argued that Hajj quotas were being unjustly distributed. They said the Hajj policy for the next year had yet to be approved.
Judge extends pre-arrest bail of accused
A special judge on Friday extended pre-arrest bail of the chief minister’s former principal secretary Tauqir Shah and former staff officer Talha Burki.
The two are accused of issuing a false intelligence report alleging a plot to murder former Lahore High Court chief justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif.
The Federal Investigation Agency counsel sought time from the court for the production of case record. The court admitted the request and adjourned hearing till September 14.
The Federal Investigation Agency has accused the officers of hatching a conspiracy to create differences among the federal government, the provincial government and the judiciary.
Other accused in the case include former Special Branch chief Col (retired) Ehsanur Rehman, Director Shahid Mahmood and officers Muhammad Azam and Ijaz Ahmad.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 8th, 2012.
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It is not the people accusing the courts of crossing the limits. Your own lawyers. You convict a criminal and the lawyers are ready to shower roses on them. Do not expect the people to respect you when your black coats make comedy of your judgements.