LAHORE, July 26: The Lahore High Court chief justice on Friday ordered the Ministry of Religious Affairs to complete paper work till Aug 1 for allotting Haj quota to 19 successful bidders after scrutiny of top bidders, who offered expenditures up to Rs250,000.

An additional attorney general told the court that all arrangements for Haj operation had been completed. He urged the court to wait for a decision of the Peshawar High Court in a similar case.

However, petitioners’ counsel said few days had been left in the Haj operation and the ministry should be directed to complete all documentation for giving quota to the successful bidders.

The chief justice accepted the request of the petitioners and directed the ministry to complete the quota allocation process by the next date of hearing.

The CJ was hearing petitions of newly-enrolled Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) challenging the Haj Policy 2013 and the process of quota allocation by the ministry.

Meanwhile, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court issued notices on petitions challenging the order of the LHC chief Justice about allocation of quota among the lowest bidders.

Old Haj organisers filed the petitions through Advocate Afzal A Haider and stated that the impugned order was in violation of their basic rights. The counsel said the high court passed the order at a stage when all arrangements for Haj had been completed, therefore, it was impracticable.

He further argued that the allocation of quota was a policy matter of the government and the court could not interfere in it. He prayed to the court to set aside the order issued by the LHC.

The bench after hearing initial arguments issued notices to respondents for July 30.

evidence sought: The Lahore High Court on Friday directed Bhakkar police to produce audio and video record of provocative speeches allegedly delivered by Malik Ishaq, a leader of the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (formerly known as Lashkar-i-Jhangvi).

Justice Sheikh Najamul Hasan issued this order during the hearing of Ishaq’s bail petition. The police registered two cases against Ishaq on charges of delivering provoking speeches on Aug 8, 2012, and Feb 2, 2013, at religious gatherings. He was accused of spreading hatred and creating unrest in the area. Ishaq pleaded that the cases against him were politically motivated and that the police registered these cases without any concrete evidence.

The judge adjourned the hearing till July 31.