LHC declares Hajj Policy 2011 as illegal

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday declared the government’s Hajj Policy 2011 as illegal and cancelled the quota allotted to 650 tour operators.Earlier, the LHC had reserved the judgement on petitions filed by private tour operators, challenging the Hajj Policy by terming it unjust.The LHC chief justice ordered that the agreement with Saudi Arabia should be presented in the court if there was any in this regard.He also said that the court could not decide the matter if Saudi Arabia was involved in the agreement and reserved the judgement. Later in the day, the court declared the Hajj Policy 2011 as illegal.During the previous hearing, the LHC had issued a stay order against enforcement of Hajj and Umra Policy, 2011 and had called replies from the provincial and federal governments until June 6.