The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday directed the federal government to provide the exact number and related record of Pakistani pilgrims who died in the stampede in Mina, outside the holy city of Makkah on August 24.
The court had taken up a petition filed by a citizen Arif Idrees through Advocate Azhar Siddique. In the application, the petitioner requested the court to take action against the Haj director general for ‘concealing facts’ about the death of Pakistani pilgrims in the Mina tragedy.
Justice Ayesha A. Malik of LHC directed authorities to provide correct information regarding pilgrims who died or went missing in the Mina tragedy. The court also summoned a performance report of Haj DG and the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
The hearing was subsequently adjourned until October 8.
In his application, the petitioner was of the stance that the authorities at religious affairs ministry are misleading public on the death toll and whereabouts of the missing pilgrims.
He pleaded that the Pakistan Haj DG (Jeddah) is responsible for hiding facts allegedly to cover corruption and that his appointment is “politically motivated”.