Summary The LHC has barred Religious Ministry to allocate Haj quota to private Haj tour operators.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial heard an application against the Ministry of Religious Affairs for not allocating quota of 5,000 pilgrims among the newly registered tour operators in light of the court’s previous order.
The petitioner stated that on June 6, 2012, the LHC chief justice had ordered the ministry to allocate the quota, but quota of only 192 pilgrims had been allocated. He stated that the remaining quota was allocated among the old tour operators in violation of the court’s directions.
He stated that the ministry had not issued Hajj Policy 2013, neither on its website nor in the printed form. He maintained that the ministry has increased Hajj expenditures by 40 percent, due to which a large number of intending pilgrims would not be able to perform Hajj.
The LHC issued notices to the federal government and ministry of religious affairs before it put off the hearing to March 18.
