ISLAMABAD: In an attempt to rein in the bureaucracy of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Religious Affairs Minister Sardar Mohammad Yousuf followed members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs in a protest walkout against his own ministry’s officials.

The walkout – which was a rare display of parliamentary unity – was held against a decision by ministry officials on the allocation of a quota for new Haj operators.

Committee members expressed support for Mr Yousuf’s stance against the bureaucracy, while the minister supported the MNAs and joined their walkout.

The committee meeting, held on Monday at the religious affairs ministry, included a smooth briefing during its first hour by Additional Secretary retired Capt Aftab on arrangements for this year’s Haj.

Committee chairman Hafiz Abdul Kareem asked about recommendations for Haj made by the committee during previous meetings.

Mr Kareem said it was “nice” that there were details about lunchboxes and other facilities that were working out with the Saudi authorities. “We all want to know [about] the efforts that have been done to create competition among Haj operators,” he added.

NA body members protest ministry officials’ allocation of quota to new Haj operators

Contrary to the expectations of ministry officials, committee members such as Malik Abdul Ghaffar Dogar, Shagufta Jumani and Ali Mohammad Khan were well-prepared with details and as soon as the briefing ended the questioning of bureaucrats began.

“This is a healthy sign that secretary of the ministry Mr Khalid Mehmood Chaudhary was in Saudi Arabia to witness the Haj arrangements himself – but why didn’t he come to this meeting to brief [us] about his initiatives,” Ali Mohammad Khan from Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) said.

The committee was informed that the secretary was not feeling well, to which Shagufta Jumani from the PPP asked the committee if any such information had been received from Mr Chaudhry. She was told that there was no information that the religious affairs secretary was unwell and would not be attending the meeting.

She said: “This is unfair, we had delayed our meeting just to hear from the secretary when he returned from Saudi Arabia. He was not there on a personal visit, besides this issue is not official but relates to the sentiments and wellbeing of thousands of Haj pilgrims.”

PML-N’s Abdul Ghaffar Dogar said the committee in its July 3 meeting had rejected the list of 29 new Haj operators.

“First of all, we had asked the Ministry of Religious Affairs to reframe the private Haj quota and distribute it keeping in view requirements of small provinces – KP, Balochistan and AJK,” he said.

Mr Dogar said: “I have come to know that the bureaucracy misled the top leadership of the country and an improper summary was forward to the prime minister that was totally contrary to the decisions of this committee.”

While the minister and State Minister Pir Aminul Hasnat remained quiet, committee members blamed the bureaucracy for even deceiving the relevant ministers.

After a Supreme Court decision, the Haj private sector was limited to 40pc of the allocation made to Pakistan by the Saudi government.

This 40pc quota accounts for 71,684 pilgrims, and the committee had suggested that, of this figure, 10pc – or 7,168 pilgrims – should be reduced from all Haj operators with more than 150 pilgrims which should be distributed among new applicants.

New applicants would not given a quota of more than 50 pilgrims each, so that more competition is available for pilgrims.

However, ministry officials distributed the quota of 7,168 pilgrims among 29 new applicants, leaving out hundreds.

“You people issued the approval letter to 29 new operators of your choice, leaving our recommendations in the file – I say we should walk out of this meeting,” Ali Mohammad Khan said. He was seconded by the committee chairman and the religious affairs minister, and all the MNAs left the room.

Outside the meeting hall, one of the committee members said even the minister was upset by the actions of the ministry officials, because politicians were eventually blamed while they (officials) were possibly making money.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2017