ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Mohammad Yousuf said on Tuesday that complaints received from Hajis pertained to only the affairs managed by the Saudi authorities.

“There is no complaint from the pilgrims against us as the complaints pertain to transport facilities, delivery of food and regulation of its quality in the Mashair area, including Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. The Saudi authorities are responsible for these affairs,” he said while talking to journalists.

Ahead of Haj this year, the Ministry of Religious Affairs had sought permission from the Saudi government to manage food distribution in the Mashair area but they rejected the request, the minister said. “We will take up the matter again”.

“We will discuss the complaints with Saudi authorities soon,” he said and added that the ministry would also look into complaints by private Haj operators.

He said that of more than 143,000 Pakistani pilgrims, about 70 had died due to health issues and one — 80-year-old Haji Abdul Ghafoor — had gone missing.

Mr Yousuf said that the Hajj operation 2016 would end on Oct 16.

He also talked about efforts being made by the ministry to maintain an environment of peace and tranquillity during Muharram.

“We have held a meeting with senior religious figures belonging to different schools of thought and the provinces have also been directed to hold similar meetings.” he said.

Published in Dawn October 5th, 2016