The spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Zakat and Usher on Saturday said that a news item published in a section of press, which says sending of Hujjaj through private Haj organisers was over and above the quota, as such 100,000 Hujjaj performed Haj under Private Haj Scheme is baseless.
The news item also said that a representative of Pakistan People's Party had lodged a complaint in NAB against misappropriation by the Minister for Religious Affairs.
Clarifying the news item, the spokesperson said that as per agreement with the Saudi Government and as per Haj Policy approved by Prime Minister, 150,000 Hujjaj had to perform Haj in December, 2006 (75,000 private sector and 75,000 government sector).
The Ministry had received about 152,000 Haj applications, against 75,000 seats allocated for government scheme. On request of the Government, the Saudi Kingdom, the spokesperson added, granted additional quota of 5,000 seats. The Ministry allocated additional quota of 3,000 in government scheme and 2,000 in Private Haj Scheme.
Therefore, 77,000 pilgrims performed Haj under the Private Scheme and 78,000 under Government Scheme. He added that selection of the Haj Group Organisers was made on merit. This year, all arrangements made by the Ministry of Religious Affairs within Pakistan and Saudi Arabia for accommodation and welfare of Hujjaj were appreciated by the pilgrims as well as welfare organisations who were engaged in the Haj affairs, he said.
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