Pakistan

Not many applicants withdrawing from Hajj

Only 225 applicants out of 79,647 people apply to get their names dropped from the final list.

Express September 05, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Most of the people selected to perform Hajj under the government scheme have not withdrawn their applications. Only 225 applicants out of 79,647 people selected for Hajj have applied to get their names dropped from the final list, which comes out to just over 0.28 per cent.

Raja Aftab, an official at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, said on Friday that 600 applicants on the waiting had also withdrawn their names from consideration, which brings the total number of withdrawals to 825 so far.

“It is quite possible that more intending pilgrims from the calamity-hit areas will request to have their names dropped in the coming days,” he said.

Expectations were high that a large number of people would withdraw from the 2010 Hajj due to the massive flooding of Pakistan’s landmass that affected about 20 million people, according to estimates. There were even speculations that some people would withdraw their applications and instead donate the money for flood-relief activities. But that has not happened.

Aftab said applicants already selected for Hajj 2010 will have to approach the ministry directly for reimbursement of their money. However, he added, those on the waiting list can approach the bank branches where they had submitted their applications for a full refund.

“The ministry would ensure 100 per cent reimbursement as soon as it receives an application for withdrawal,” Aftab said. Candidates that failed to make the final list after balloting will be approached for the spots that open up, Aftab added.

The ministry had selected 68,800 intending pilgrims through computerised balloting that was done on August 11. Applicants who had not succeeded in computerised ballots in the past two years and those that failed to perform Hajj last year due to the negligence of their Hajj Group Organisers were automatically selected, bringing the total number of people performing Hajj through the government scheme to 79,647 Hujjaj.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (4)

Ali Gohar | 14 years ago | Reply It is not a bad deal to donate for flood affectees, the money one is going to spend on Hajj, but who knows that their money will not result in making Pakistan even more corrupt in the list of the most currupt countries. We must contribte but who can ensure the fair spending of that amount. We have a thinking that to contribute can make our rulers to spend more on them. But this is one side of the story. The other being more important is to contribute generously and ensure it spending through personal means or some reliable sources like Pak Army or other social and humanistic groups.

Anwar | 14 years ago | Reply Two reasons people have not withdrawn from Hajj. If the President is lavishly spending in UK and France during the floods, they can at least spend on Hajj. Second they have already given the money to the government for Hajj. The refund process will be so tedious and frustrating that they will end up loosing the money. Better to do Hajj. I agree with the to be Hajis. If I had been in their shoes I would go for Hajj for the above reasons.3

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Mahvesh | 14 years ago | Reply Don't forget, most people save all their lives to go for Hajj and only manage to get the chance after applying multiple times. Withdrawing their names from the list doesn't necessarily mean they would donate that amount instead - and who's to say they haven't done their share besides going for Hajj? I think it's unfair to expect people to not go for something that has immense value for them personally.

Eeman | 14 years ago | Reply I find a solid reason behind people's reluctance in becoming a slaughtering-goat and rescinding their Hajj. When government, with all its might, is not showing any courage to cut its expenses, then why should people bother? With millions of dollars being dolled in, and with no sufficient transperency, PPP needs to gain trust from public before expecting anything.

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