ISLAMABAD: The capital police have devised a procedure to select police officials for Haj duty, sources told Dawn on Sunday.

The procedure was aimed at giving a chance to every person working in the police department.

“This year four officials, a SP, three ASIs and a constable were denied to go Saudi Arab as the facilitator as they have already served there three times,” a police official said on the condition of anonymity.

Earlier, ministry of religious affairs used to select the police officials on its own and send a list 19 officials to the police department with the instruction to spare them for Haj duty, they added.

In the past, a balloting was carried out to select policemen as Haj facilitator, which provided equal chance to policemen to perform Haj, they said adding but for the last couple of years the ministry has been sending the list to Centre Police Office.

“This year those who got the job of the facilitator for the third time were denied no-objection certificate,” they said.

The ministry demands experienced officials, so some of them were given third chance, they said, adding but from next year no one would be allowed to go to Saudi Arab as facilitator for the third time.

In future, nine police officials would be selected from the fresh lot and the rest from the experienced ones who have performed the Haj duty.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2015

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