LAHORE – The Lahore High Court on Friday, sought reply from Ministry of Religious Affairs on a petition seeking details of the amount Hajj Tour Operators were demanding from the pilgrims.
Advocate Azhar Siddique had submitted in his petition that tour operators were demanding Rs28, 000 from pilgrims claiming that the amount had been levied by the ministry; however, no other details were being told to them.
He contended that it was the right of pilgrims to know what their money was being used for; adding that the expenses for religious rites had been decreased thorough out the world but in Pakistan it had become an industry. Performing the religious duty would become cheaper if the Rs28 thousand were exempted, the petition lawyer maintained.
He requested to direct the ministry to disclose the details and reasons about the amount.
After hearing initial arguments, Chief Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed directed the Ministry of Religious Affairs to submit the reply with in ten days.