JEDDAH, 11 February 2005 — Two staff members of Pakistan’s Haj Directorate have been suspended after they were found guilty of renting sub-standard buildings for Pakistani pilgrims during the Haj season, according to Pakistan’s Minister of State for Religious Affairs Dr. Aamer Liaquat Hussain.

Dr. Aamer was here on a fact-finding mission after a recent media uproar against private tour operators and Pakistan’s Haj mission regarding poor arrangements and lack of facilities in the buildings rented for Pakistani pilgrims.

“The staff of the Haj Directorate were suspended on charges of negligence of work. They were involved taking commission in renting buildings that were rejected last year,” he told a press conference called by Pakistan Journalists Forum (PJF) here.

Expressing his views after meeting with ordinary Pakistanis and surveying buildings, Dr. Aamer said: “I have reached the conclusion that our entire Haj operation was a failure and many irregularities have been noted in this year’s Haj policy. Major steps will be taken to overcome the situation. We have also received complaints against private tour operators who did not meet the standards and made the Haj more complicated for the pilgrims. Their shameful dealings brought disrepute not only to the pilgrims but to Pakistan as well.”

Answering a question, the minister pointed out that 251 out of 285 tour operators met the standards while the rest provided sub-standard services. These operators will be disqualified next time and not only will their licenses be canceled but their surety will also be confiscated.

“I am personally against lucky draw in selecting Haj applicants. This must work on first come first served basis. And the number of pilgrims must not exceed the limit if you want to give them suitable facilities.”

Regarding the area and tents provided to Pakistani pilgrims, the minister said, “I will discuss this matter with Saudi authorities to place all tents in one designated area so that a pilgrim can easily locate his tent in case he goes missing from his group.”

He also said there was a lack of awareness about Haj rituals. “We will educate our pilgrims through mosques, madrasas, radio and television.

“There were many irregularities and loopholes in our Haj operation. Pilgrims were forced to stay in sub-standard buildings and made to suffer from lack of food. Poor transport arrangements aggravated their misery,” the minister said.

“The Haj medical mission was a total failure in providing medical aid or medicines to sick pilgrims. Life-saving medicines did not reach here from Pakistan because of restriction imposed by Pakistan International Airlines and customs.

“Workers hired to serve the pilgrims were incompetent. They were performing their own Haj rather than providing help to the pilgrims,” he said.

In the light of all these problems, he said he would recommend inclusion of parliamentarians while drawing next year’s Haj policy.