LAHORE, July 17: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Wednesday ordered the Ministry of Religious Affairs to allocate quota to Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) which had given bids from Rs190,000 to Rs247,000 per pilgrim.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial directed the ministry to complete the process for allocation of quota including issuance of offer letters and recognition letters to the successful HGOs before the next date of hearing of petitions moved by newly enrolled Haj groups.

The petitioners had submitted that the ministry was awarding quota on the basis of personal liking and disliking and ignoring the merit. They said most of the operators included in the list had no previous experience and some of them did not even own their offices.

Earlier an additional attorney general raised objection to the eligibility status of the HGO which had given the lowest bid of Rs190,500. He alleged that last year 22 pilgrims hosted by the said HGO had not returned to Pakistan. At this the CJ directed the HGO to clear the allegations with the ministry.

Justice Bandial also directed the ministry to grant an opportunity to three HGOs to file their requisite documents. The judge observed that if such documents were satisfactory, the court shall consider their inclusion in the list of qualified HGOs for award of quota.

The CJ adjourned hearing till July 22 and directed the ministry to come up with progress report.

Ramday case: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday asked a lawyer to establish maintainability of his petition against appointment of Mustafa Ramday as acting advocate general Punjab.

An additional advocate general produced the notification of the impugned appointment and said Ramday was appointed an advocate general and given additional charge of AGP to look after the administrative affairs of office.

Justice Ijazul Ahsan adjourned hearing for a date to be fixed after Ramazan and asked the petitioner-lawyer to come up with arguments to establish maintainability of the case.

Advocate Noshab A. Khan filed the petition and stated that under Article 140 of the Constitution, the qualification of a high court judge and AGP was equal. He said the minimum age limit for the judge was 45 years, therefore, a person below the age limit could not be appointed as AGP. He said Ramday was less than 45 years of age.

He prayed to court to set aside the appointment of Ramday as acting AGP being unconstitutional.