MUHAMMAD ALI

KARACHI: The stalemate between Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony (MRA&IH) and Hajj Group Organizers (HGOs) is finally over as the former has released Hajj quota-2016 to all 742 HGOs.

According to MRA&IH officials, the impasse between the ministry and HGOs, which persisted for more than a week, has finally resolved after 2-day deliberation with HGOs.

They said that the ministry after signing MoU with HGOs had given go-ahead to all Haji camps to release their quota on 50-50 basis and sent their offer letters for the purpose.

The officials further said that the required documentation in this regard may be completed by HGOs in a day or two and then they could collect their offer letters from Haji camps; adding that HGOs’ list was also shared with Saudi authorities and now they were allowed to organize their Hajj groups.

When contacted, HGOs chairman Nadeem Sharif confirmed the release of Hajj quota for HGOs, saying that ministry has finally released the quota of 71,684 Hujjaj which is 50 percent of the total quota for 2016, to the HGOs after successful negotiations.

He dispelled the impression that the ministry had stopped HGOs quota, saying that they did not prevent HGOs from getting quota but we had some reservations in some clauses required for completion of its documentation.

He said all issues had now been resolved and added that joint secretary Hajj, deputy secretary and section officer represented the ministry while HGOs’ delegation comprised seven members.