Hajj travel: Religious affairs secy promises to allot quota to 10 new operators

Says it will be done before Sep 14 after necessary approvals from the govt of Saudi Arabia.

LAHORE:

Religious Affairs Secretary Muhammad Azam Samma on Tuesday undertook before the Lahore High Court that Hajj quota of 540 pilgrims will be allocated among at least 10 newly registered hajj group organisers (HGOs).

Appearing before Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial to defend against contempt of court charges against the ministry by newly registered Hajj tour operators, the secretary stated that the quotas will be allotted by September 14 after necessary approvals from the government of Saudi Arabia.

The tour operators had accused the ministry of discrimination in allocation of Hajj quota.

Earlier, the secretary had insisted that quota could not be allocated to the newly registered tour operators.

The CJ had observed that the court had issued order to the respondent ministry on June 6 to allocate quota on merit among eligible new tour operators.

“It appears that you do not want to allot them quota,” the CJ said.

Advocate Azhar Siddique, the petitioners’ counsel, said that the government of Saudi Arabia had allowed 10,000 more pilgrims from Pakistan, but the Ministry of Religious Affairs had declined it.

The CJ warned the secretary contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against him if the order was not implemented. The secretary then sought time to seek instructions from Religious Affairs Minister Khursheed Shah.

The CJ deferred hearing for 15 minutes. The secretary then said that the ministry will implement court’s orders.

The CJ adjourned the hearing till September 14 and directed the secretary to return with a compliance report. He also directed the ministry to issue enrolment letters to eligible tour operators.

Earlier the petitioners submitted that the Supreme Court in its July 7, 2011, order had observed that the government should observe transparency at the time of making the 2012 Hajj Policy. They said that the ministry and 726 tour operators had last year said that they had received money from the pilgrims and their lists had been sent to Saudi Arabia. The petitioners said that the ministry was once again giving quota to the same tour operators ignoring new Hajj tour operators.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th, 2012.