SC reserves verdict in Haj quota case

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) Thursday reserved the verdict in Haj quota case to be announced later today, Geo News reported.

On Wednesday the SC observed that its objective was to protect the intending pilgrims from difficulties and asked the parties to understand the message of Sura Haj—guiding to provide facilities to pilgrims.

A four-member special bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, was hearing identical petitions, seeking suspension of the Lahore High Court verdict against the allocation of Haj quota. As many as 17 petitioners have filed petitions on June 6, 2011, under Article 185(3) of the Constitution, making the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Haj, Zakat, Usher, through its secretary respondent, appealing for setting aside the Lahore High Court decision in the case.

The LHC had ruled against the distribution of quota under the Haj Policy 2011 and cancelled the quota allotted to hundreds of tour operators. The petitioners had prayed for leave to appeal in order to set aside the judgment of June 6, 2011, passed by a full bench of the LHC over Haj Policy 2011.