Chief Justice Lahore High Court Umar Ata Bandial here Monday directed the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to submit by December 20 its inquiry report about the affairs of the religious ministry in the allotment of Hajj quota and its process. The CCP counsel told the court an inquiry was under way and the delay was due to non-availability of documents from the religious ministry.

The Chief Justice sought the inquiry report on petitions moved by different Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs) challenging the Hajj Policy 2012. The petitioners' counsel Muhammad Azhar Siddque submitted that this policy was not based on merit and pilgrims might face difficulties because of it. He alleged that the new policy would promote nepotism as it lacks transparency.

He also said that the ministry did not have any authority to permit a certain group of persons to do certain business by allotting Hajj quota. He said Article 18 of the Constitution allows every citizen freedom of trade, business or profession. He submitted that the ministry had prepared the draft of Pakistan Hajj Pilgrims Commission law but it was never tabled before the national assembly for approval.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012