Over 60pc army men inducted as Khuddam: NA informed about Haj policy
By Our Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, June 21: More than 60 per cent of Khuddamul Hujjaj sent to Saudi Arabia for the Haj 2004 comprised officials of the armed forces, civil armed forces and police, the National Assembly was told here on Monday.
The information was placed before the House in response to a question by MNA Syed Naveed Qamar, who had sought details from the minister for religious affairs, Ijazul Haque, about the number of Khuddamul Hujjaj sent to Saudi Arabia and the number of such persons belonging to the armed forces.
The minister, in a written response, informed the National Assembly that the final list of selected Khuddamul Hujjaj was received from the General Headquarters. Under Article 245 (1) of the 1973 Constitution, the specified functions of the armed forces include defence of the country against external aggression or threat of war and, subject to law of the land to act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.
The minister for religious affairs informed the House that out of total 230 Khuddamul Hujjaj, 130 were deputed from the armed forces. In addition, another 18 belonged to the FC NWFP, FC Balochistan, Pakistan Rangers Punjab, Pakistan Rangers Sindh, Pakistan Coast Guards and Frontier Constabulary.
As many as 24 policemen posted for duties as Khuddam included officials from the CID office, special branch, secret branch and from other units. Giving details of the charter of duties of Khuddamul Hujjaj, the minister informed the House that they were deputed to render welfare services such as providing guidance to pilgrims, who lose their way, to shift pilgrims to hospitals and to arrange burial of the deceased Hajis, to receive pilgrims at Jeddah, Makkah and Madina and to establish sector offices in the localities where buildings are hired for Pakistani pilgrims and also in Mina.
The record placed before the National Assembly showed that armed forces sent its officials to perform welfare activities from various units and formations including the artillery, A.K, Baloch, Punjab, signals, FF, army supply corps, engineers, EME, aviation, ordnance, military intelligence directorate, GHQ, PNS Bahadur, PNS Tariq, PNS Haider, PNS Khyber, PNS Munsif, PNS Karsaz, PNS Mehran, PNS Hafeez, PN war college, Air HQs, Chaklala, Joint Staff Headquarters, EW Mushaf, 9MR squadron, HQ NORSEC, PAF academy Risalpur, 107 AED, PAF Masroor, Mirage rebuild factory PAC Kamra etc.
In response to another question by MNA Sayeda Farhana Khalid Banori about the number of historical places in Pakistan including forts in the tribal areas, the minister for culture and tourism, Rais Munir Ahmed informed the House that 392 historical sites and monuments including forts all over the country have been declared as "protected antiquities" under the Antiquities Act 1975.
The minister said all the protected sites and monuments are administratively controlled and looked after by the department of archaeology and museums, except those, which are of religious nature and controlled by different departments such as Auqaf or the respective provincial governments.
The minister, Rais Munir Ahmed, did not submit a reply to two other parts of the question by MNA Farhana Banoori. The minister did not inform the House if the government had any proposal under consideration to open the said places for foreign tourists.
