20 November 2004	Saturday	07 Shawwal 1425

KARACHI, Nov 19: The Sindh Assembly was on Friday informed that the PIA had taken extra measures and started special flights to ferry back the stranded Pakistani pilgrims who had gone to Saudi Arabia for performing Umrah.

Provincial minister Irfanullah Khan Marwat, responding to a point of orders raised by some members, told the house that the government had set up a committee, which had since reached Jeddah, to inquire into the problem. It had been asked to submit its report within three days, he added.

Acting Speaker Rahila Tiwana asked Senior Minister Syed Sardar Ahmed to seek a report from PIA in this regard and submit the same to the house by Monday. Opposition's Hafiz Naeem was critical of the PIA's station manager in Jeddah, claiming that he appeared rude to elderly pilgrims.

The member demanded transfer of the manager. During the session, fateha was offered for the departed soul of Mian Sharif who died recently in Saudi Arabia. -APP