ISLAMABAD: Computerised balloting was carried out here on Thursday and names of 69,534 applicants were finalised who would be performing Haj this year under the government-run scheme.

The balloting was originally scheduled to be carried out last Friday but was put off as private Haj operators had approached the Supreme Court over the government’s decision to reduce their quota.

The apex court subsequently ruled that quotas under both the government-run scheme and the one managed by private Haj operators should be 50 per cent.

Balloting for the government-run scheme was conducted by Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Mohammad Yousaf. There were 280,617 applications against a quota of 71,684.

Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Yousaf said the names of the selected applicants would be posted on his ministry’s website. The selected applicants should submit their passports by May 15.

“We will approach the Supreme Court to review its decision on... quota under the government scheme as it is cheaper and provides more facilities to the pilgrims,” he added.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2016