Ministry ordered to complete allocation of quota to new haj groups

While adjourning hearing of haj quota case till September 26, Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial Tuesday ordered Religious Affairs Ministry to complete allocation of haj quota to new short listed haj group organizers (HGOs) immediately. The chief justice passed the orders on a petition filed by Ashfaq Ahmad Mirza and others against not allotting the quota to new HGOs despite court orders.
Earlier, Secretary Religious Affairs Muhammad Azam Samma, Additional Secretary Religious Affairs Arshad Bhatti and Section Officer Zafar Iqbal appeared before the court on being summoned. The religious ministry officials informed the court about pending litigation before Islamabad High Court (IHC) regarding haj quota and restraining order passed in a case. However, the court observed that the order passed by IHC did not apply to the extent of short listed newly enrolled HGOs as their selection was carried out on merit and quota being allocated to them was retrieved from defaulter HGOS. The chief justice ordered for completion of allocation of haj quota to new HGOs by September 26. The petitioners, in their petition, submitted that the court ordered religious ministry to allot a quota of 5000 pilgrims to new HGOs and complete the process by June 18. However, the respondents were delaying the matter to avoid allotment of quota to new HGOs, they added. They pleaded the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the respondents for disobeying court order. The chief justice had summoned the secretary and other officials after it was told to the court on September 24 that allotment of haj quota to newly enrolled HGOs could not be done due to a stay order of IHC. It may be mentioned here that Secretary Religious Affairs Chaudhry Muhammad Azam Samaa on September 11 had assured the court that a quota of 540 pilgrims would be allotted to some of the short listed organizers.