Distribution of zakat: government directed to submit reply within three weeks

Islamabad High Court (IHC) here on Tuesday ordered Ministries of Religious Affairs and Local Government to submit reply within three weeks over the mechanism for distribution of Zakat fund among the deserving poor segments of society.
The single bench of Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Aslam issued the direction on a writ petition filed by Chairman Human Rights Society Kowkab Iqbal advocate. Kowkab argued that the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Ministry of Local Government have been failed to provide relief to the poor and deserving.
He said distribution of Zakat under the Pakistan Baitul Maal was based on political basis, while throughout the country, Nazimeen despite having complete information about the deserving people in their respective localities, had turned a blind eye. "Both the systems working under the concerned ministries are not providing succour to the poor community," he added. He prayed to the court to issue direction to the concerned ministries to immediately take steps to tackle the issue.