The Lahore High Court Chief Justice here Monday adjourned the hearing in dozens of petitions against Hajj policy 2011 and discriminatory process of allotment of Hajj quota to tour operators after an additional secretary of ministry of religious affairs Arshad Bhatti filed report. The court observed that no status quo order had been passed when Bhatti said the LHC on last hearing also ordered to maintain status quo and the ministry was facing inconvenience.
The court also took notice of adjournment request by the petitioner's counsel Ahmad Awais, and observed, the court will decide the case in his absence on merit if he failed to appear on next date of hearing on May 23. The court was hearing petitions filed by Travel Shop (Pvt) Limited and twelve other Hajj tour operators praying to the court to direct for issuance of Hajj quota on merit after cancelling all previous mala fide notifications and quota allotments.
The petitioners alleged in their petition that Ministry of Religious Affairs allotted Hajj quota 2011 to private tour operators on the basis of personal liking and political influence despite clear directions of superior courts to follow merit in allotment of the Hajj quota. The petitioners prayed to the court to declare the Hajj policy 2011 illegal to the extent of private tour operators.
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