Parliamentarians on Monday said that the wholesale of hardship quota in government Hajj scheme is inappropriate and asked Ministry of Religious Affairs to inform the parliamentary body about the distribution of hardship quota during the next meeting.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Inter-Faith Harmony which met with MNA Hafiz Abdul Kareem in the chair asked Ministry of Religious Affairs to inform the committee about the distribution of 2581 seats (3%) reserved under hardship quota in the government Hajj scheme.
"We don't want reserve seats for parliamentarians in Hajj quota but it should also be ensured that no relative or nominee of President, Prime Minister and Religious Minister will go for Hajj under the Hajj quota" MNA Malik Abdul Ghaffar Dogar. He said that if the relatives or nominee of President, Prime Minister, and Religious Minister are accommodated in Hajj quota then the same policy should also be adopted for parliamentarians.
Dogar said that Ministry of Religious Affairs should inform the committee about the people who have been selected under hardship quota. MNA Shagufta Jumani said that despite several visits to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, she did not get to meet Minister for Religious Affairs and Secretary to know about the quota of parliamentarians in Hajj quota. She said that Ministry of Religious Affairs should inform the parliamentary body when the VIP flight will go for Hajj.
She also alleged that pilgrims who were selected under government scheme and have gone for Hajj were not served proper breakfast or provided medical facilities. "Under the rules, there should be at least one doctor at every building but unfortunately there is no doctor causing hardship to pilgrims for availing medical facilities", she said. Shahida Akhtar Ali said that the list prepared by Ministry of Religious Affairs for hardship quota does not have the name of people who applied under Hajj quota following her recommendation.
Peer Amin-ul-Haq Hasnat, State Minister for Religious Affairs and Inter-faith Harmony informed the Committee that in the current year no VIP flight will be arranged for specific people. He further added that action will be taken on the questions raised by the members.
The Additional Secretary of Ministry informed that the ministry has blacklisted some private Hajj tour operators due to their misconduct and bad services. Further, on a question related to the member's Hajj quota, he answered that the Prime Minister of Pakistan has approved two persons quota for all the Parliamentarians. The Ministry is taking necessary steps in this regard. MNA Syed Imran Ahmad Shah, Sahibzada Faiz-ul-Hassan, Syed Amir Ali Shah Jamole, Ali Muhammd Khan, Lal Chand Malhi, Pir Bux Junejo, Sahibzada Muhammad Yaqub, Bismillah Khan and Molvi Agha Muhammad attended the meeting.
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