ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs on Monday decided that the Haj quota for private tour operators should be reduced to accommodate new operators and that doing so will promote competition between Haj operators.

Chaired by Hafiz Abdul Kareem, the committee unanimously rejected the list of 29 new companies enlisted by the religious affairs ministry and said the 40pc private sector quota is for 71,684 pilgrims.

The committee decided that 10pc quota for the private sector will be reduced from those operators who have a quota of 150 or more pilgrims which totals to 7,168 pilgrims whereas new tour operators will not be given a quota of more than 50 pilgrims.

The committee was told that the government will accommodate 60pc of the pilgrims and that tour operators will handle the rest according to the Supreme Court’s decision.

The committee was also told that a quota will also be given to new tour operators who have already submitted applications.

Religious affairs ministry’s joint secretary said the two quotas were provided by the Hajj Policy Formulation Committee constituted by SC and were given to the top 29 new companies on merit basis.

MNA’s criticised the awarding of the wrong quota to new companies by ministry officials and that the recommendations of the committee constituted by the premier had been ignored.

MNA Ali Mohammad Khan suggested Balochistan, Kashmir and other areas should also be considered when fixing quotas for pilgrims.

Meanwhile, clerics and religious leaders have said the twin blasts in Parachinar were a conspiracy to divide the nation on the basis of sects.

Speakers at a National Ulema and Mashaik Conference held on Monday at the Ministry of Religious Affairs said Pakistanis have foiled enemies’ attempts of creating sectarian differences in the country.

Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Mohammad Yousaf, who was chairing the conference, said clerics should play their role in forging unity among Muslims in Pakistan and to let go of personal interests in favour of national interests.

He said the true spirit of Islam was promoted by Sufi saints, who helped spread the religion in the subcontinent.

Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, retired Lt Gen Nasir Janjua said the Parachinar attacks have terrified the nation and that the banned outfit, Lashkar-i-Jhangvi al-Almeen has accepted responsibility for the terror attacks.

“But the terrorists have failed in creating differences among Pakistanis and this is in fact a global conspiracy against Muslims,” he said.

Minister of State for Religious Affairs Pir Aminul Hasnat said terrorists have no religion and that attacks were launched in Parachinar because its residents are patriotic Pakistanis. He said this was a conspiracy to disturb the unity of the nation.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2017