PHC moved against hike in Haj expenses

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Wednesday issued a notice to federal government in a writ petition challenging the increase in the Haj expenses from Rs270,000 to Rs456,426.

A division bench comprising Justice Syed Afsar Shah and Justice Muhammad Ayub issued a notice to federation through secretary, Religious Affairs, Zakat and Usher Division, secretary, Finance Division, secretary, Interior Division and secretary, Foreign Affairs Division, directing them to submit a reply in the petition.

The court issued the notice in a writ petition filed by Shamsher Khan, a resident of Muslimabad, Kakshal, Peshawar, through his lawyer Noor Alam Khan. The lawyer submitted that stated that keeping in view the financial position of people of Pakistan, the government in the past had provided a subsidy for performing Haj.

The respondents recently abolished the facility of subsidy and accordingly the rates for performing Haj reached round Rs.456,426 which is beyond the affordability of common people of Pakistan and accordingly a number of Muslims will be deprived of performing their Haj, the lawyer explained.

He stated that the total cost of performing Hajj amounts to Rs2,55,300, but the respondents are charging double of this amount.

The return ticket from Saudi Arabia is 2500 riyal, rent is 2000 riyal, maintenance is 1200 riyal, 500 riyals for sacrifice, 500 riyals for the stay in Mina and 200 riyal return fare from Makkah to Madina which amounts to 6900 riyals (PKRs 255300), he explained. The lawyer argued that even without providing any subsidy, the Pakistani Muslims may perform Haj at the rate of Rs255300 but the unfortunate citizens of Pakistan are being robbed by the respondents by charging them at the rate of Rs456,426.

The petitioner prayed before the court to declare the decision of the respondents to withdraw the subsidy on performing Haj illegal, unlawful and in violation of Article 2-A & 31 of Constitution. The court fixed March 12 for the next hearing into the petition.