Last hajj flight to take off on Dec 2

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs, Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi Monday said out of total 164,746 pilgrims, 70,000 have so far landed in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. "The last flight of pre-Hajj operation would take off on December 2, while the return flights would start on December 12," he told a news conference here. He said the pilgrims landing at Madina were satisfied about the arrangements, while those reaching Makkah had to face some minor difficulties like accommodation at long distance, adding "a shuttle service has been started for their movement but many of them are ignorant about this despite huge publicity." The Minister said such problems the hajj operation faced delay of about six weeks as case to determine quota of private Hajj tour operator was sub-judice in the Supreme Court. Some of the pilgrims affiliated with private tour operators have not yet received visas due to delay in the issuance of bar-codes by the Saudi government, he added. "There is no delay on our part. It may be due to the non-issuance of bar-code on passports by Saudi ministry, containing whole bio-data of pilgrims, accommodation and date of departure and return," he explained. Hamid Saeed Kazmi also categorically rebutted reports about differences between him and the secretary, adding both were performing their duties in a cordial atmosphere. He said to avoid inconvenience, the ministry would not add any other family member after the prescribed schedule, be it in name of Mehram or youngster to support old-aged parents. The Minister told media that out of 30,000 quota for private tour operators, only 109 were surrendered which have been accommodated under government scheme, so he said there is no question of leftover quota of private tour operators as being reported in media. Hamid Saeed Kazmi sought help from media to trace the people either from within the ministry or outsiders allegedly involved in illegal sale of forms for Hajj, despite the fact that the ministry had not issued such forms even to parliamentarians. He expressed readiness to have any check of the parliamentary committee to ensure transparency in Hajj operation. "I would have no objection if a special parliamentary committee is formed or matter is referred to the Standing committee of Parliament on religious affairs," the Minister added. Secretary Religious Affairs Naguibullah Malik said complaints about non-verification of professional background of private tour operators are due to lack of any regulatory mechanism in this regard, which he said would be established to remove such concerns. He said not only the ministry but also the law enforcement agencies are working to detect illegal activities and money-making in name of this `holy operation,' adding that it is an offense and action would be taken under law against those found involved in such crime.

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