Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs to make the submission of Hajj applications admissible till July 23, 2013. The decision was made on petitions (796/13 & 923/13) filed by Hajj Organisers Association of Pakistan (Sindh Zone) and other tour operators against Federation of Pakistan and Director Hajj.
Their petitions drew the attention to previous orders through which it had been directed to entertain all Hajj applications till July 20, 2013. However, the decision was not being implemented, despite the said order. According to SHC order: "The grievance of the plaintiffs is that notwithstanding previous orders as also the statement just referred to applications being submitted by the plaintiffs are not being entertained properly and fully on account of letter dated June 28, 2013."
Keeping all this in view, the SHC during hearing ordered the Ministry of Religious Affairs that "Hajj applications submitted by the plaintiffs shall be entertained and processed but this is entirely without prejudice to the case of either the plaintiffs or the defendants." The SHC also clarified that: "This order shall not affect the claim or right, as contended by learned counsel for the plaintiffs, for the quota that is being claimed by them which matter shall be considered along with other pending matters which are already fixed on July 23, 2013."