Hajj quota: Secy asked to explain failure to comply orders

The petitioners requested that the court initiate contempt proceedings against the officials responsible for delay.

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court chief justice on Monday summoned the Ministry of Religious Affairs secretary on Tuesday (today) for not complying with court orders regarding allotment of quota to new Hajj group organisers.

The counsel for the tour operators, Muhammad Azhar Siddique, filed a petition seeking implementation of the orders issued earlier by the court. Siddique described the delay by the ministry in allotting quota to the petitioners as deliberate. He said at least 15 contempt petitions had been filed against the secretary and officials concerned for violating court orders but the authorities had still not complied with them. The petitioners requested that the court get its orders implemented and initiate contempt proceedings against the officials responsible for the delay.

The CJ directed the registrar’s office to consolidate all contempt petitions against ministry officials and fix them for the hearing on Tuesday (today).  In another petition – that alleges that ministry officials changed the names of volunteers appointed for provision of services and assistance to Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia – the ministry was given a week’s time to submit its reply.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2012.