Ministry of Religious Affairs requests SC to combine cases against 2018 Haj policy

E-Paper | August 01, 2026

The Ministry of Religious Affairs on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court, requesting it to combine the multiple cases it is facing regarding the 2018 Haj policy.

According to sources within the ministry, it has asked the court to combine all the cases and hear them in the Islamabad High Court.

The ministry is currently facing cases in the Lahore High Court and Sindh High court regarding its Haj policy.

Petitions filed in both the courts had declared that the new Haj policy, which prevents individuals from performing the pilgrimage more than once within a stipulated period of time, is against the Sharia.

As a result of these petitions, the courts had ordered that the Haj Lucky Draw 2018, which was to be held on January 26, be postponed until the matter is resolved.

Lahore High Court had ordered the Ministry of Religious Affairs to stop conducting balloting of 17 per cent quota of the government Haj scheme.

According to ministry officials, the new date for the draw will be announced soon.

While many pilgrims from Pakistan avail the services of private companies to look after their travel and stay in Saudi Arabia, thousands apply for the annual government scheme that entails a lucky draw, keeping this in mind, this year the government Haj quota was increased to 67 per cent.

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Carol Lee Murphy

Jan 31, 2018 09:23pm

Haj is an incredibly important religious duty and is taken seriously, something be taken so and is individual. I think the need is recognised and i think the lottery is the Governments way of trying hard to meet.an important need.like many things no matter what country,favoritism, abuse of rights does happen. and the authorities have to step in and regulate fairness.and just like fairness that needs to be regulated, people in all countries try to beat the system, its a fact of life.and i think the lottery system is simply trying to ensure that as many people as possible have a chance to carry out their obligation.Thier is nothing wrong with the lottery and the authorities doing their best to ensure,everyone has a chance,

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crime master gogo

Feb 01, 2018 03:55am

People should be allowed only ONCE to use the Government Hajj scheme, so that someone else who's never performed hajj may get a chance. If someone wants to go to hajj again, he should do it through private hajj operators

Recommend 0

waqas sultan

Feb 01, 2018 07:02am

It is very fair that new pilgrims be given chance to perform hajj rather than sending people who have already fulfilled their obligation

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JEHANZEB

Feb 01, 2018 05:11pm

There is no bar in shariat to perform Hajj twice or even every year. However, it is obligatory only once in a lifetime subject that you have the financial resources and meet other requirements.

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