Parliament can privatize entire Hajj Operation: Hamid Kazmi ---AG should represent Hamid Kazmi in apex court: Members Committee

Parliament can privatize entire Hajj Operation: Hamid Kazmi

---AG should represent Hamid Kazmi in apex court: Members Committee

By Mohammad Saleem Mehsud

ISLAMABAD, Dec 10 : Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi on Friday said that government is ready to privatize the entire Hajj operation provided the parliament passes the bill in this regard.

He was responding queries during his appearance in the National Assembly Standing Committee for Religious Affairs held here under the Chairmanship of Maulana Mohammad Qasim.

Hamid Saeed Qazmi said that several stories of corruption were published against him but he has not blamed anyone nor criticized anybody keeping in view Pakistan’s cordial relation with Saudi government.

When asked by members of the committee to pinpoint those involved in Hajj scam as he has already confessed in the Supreme Court that corruption was committed, Hamid said that he has not blamed anybody rather he has received letters informing him about the corruption. “The case is in the court and let it be decided and everyone who has committed sin should be punished,” Hamid Saeed said adding that irregularities were not reported in Pakistanis Makatibs during Hajj.

Kazmi stated that excessive crowed in the Hajj this year was one of the reason which contributed to the difficulties of the Saudi officials to manage arrangements for the pilgrims as Saudi officials told me that this year pilgrims came in large number because last year ‘sine flu’ has halted many Muslims from performing Hajj. Also to perform Hajj in relatively cold weather Muslims from nearby countries came in great number.

Members of the committee asked whereabouts of Ahmad Nawaz and about progress in the FIA report submitted to the apex court, Hamid said that Ahmad Nawaz who was middle-man between the Secretary and the Religious Ministry went underground and the officials concerned were searching him. He further said that if Ahmad Nawaz was arrested then everything will be surfaced. Regarding report of FIA, Hamid said that investigation was in progress and all the officials concerned were summoned and case is under process in court.

Chairman Maulana Mohammad Qasim concluding meeting of the standing committee directed the authorities concerned to present detailed report of alleged corruption happened in the last flight ferrying the pilgrims to the standing committee within a week.

Member of the committee unanimously recommended that despite Advocate Latif Kosa who has demanded Rs 5.5million to represent the federal Religious Ministry in the apex court, the Attorney General will be made counsel to defend Religious Ministry in the apex court. The committee also recommended banning ‘Kidmatgar’ official service providers from performing hajj, they should facilitate and provide services to the pilgrims during hajj.

The committee further recommended unanimously that Hajj Policy 2011 may be finalized with consultation of the Standing Committee and policy of Parliament’s Hiring Review Committee may also be continued for the next year.

Members of the committee recommended to privatize the entire Hajj Operation in order to end corruption once for all.