Tuesday 27 August 2013 Pakistani expats appear set to reconsider plans to perform the Haj pilgrimage this year at the advice of Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan. “Our plan for the upcoming Haj season includes steps to urge Pakistani residents in Saudi Arabia to cooperate with the Saudi administration in view of ongoing expansion works,” said Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, director-general of Haj at the Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah. Only 104,000 local pilgrims will be permitted to enter Makkah this year, in comparison to 200,000 last year. “The mataf (circumambulation) area at the Grand Mosque in Makkah is partially closed due to works. It can accommodate only 48,000 worshippers per hour now,” said Khan. Once the planned construction is over, this number will treble to around 150,000. He warned against entering the holy precinct without permission. Violators will be arrested. “The penalty could be as severe as deportation,” said Khan. Khan had asked his compatriots in the Kingdom to “reconsider their plans of performing the Haj ritual this year” earlier this month. Akif said that the annual quota for Pakistan pilgrims has been reduced by 36,000 but that the reduction is not limited to Pakistan and will be applied to countries sending pilgrims over to varying degrees. During his February visit, Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs, Sardar Muhammad Yousef, had requested Saudi authorities to increase the quota by 20,000, but Pakistan Haj officials have since had to contend with a lesser number of pilgrims. He said that Haj Deputy Minister, Shahid Khan, will visit the country soon to discuss Haj arrangements. Sohail A. Khan, press consular at the Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah, clarified the ambassador’s statement, saying that those who have previously performed the Haj ritual are advised to hold back on performing the ritual again. “The first flight of Pakistan pilgrims will reach Jeddah on Sept. 10” he said. “Our Haj operators and the government in Islamabad have already reached an accord to reduce the number of pilgrims for 2013,” Sohail said. One Pakistani expat living in Jeddah, who asked to remain anonymous, said it is the duty of Saudi authorities to apply maximum vigilance on entry points to reduce the number of violators entering the area. “I had plans to perform Haj this year with my family, but I think we can hold off until next year,” Shahid Qamar, an engineer from Pakistan, said. Shahid welcomed the Pakistani envoy’s suggestion. “We understand the situation there. and I think we should postpone our plans, as construction works are going ahead in full swing.” “I urge Saudi authorities to penalize and deport these beggars who come for Umrah and are left behind to engage in such activities that give their country a bad reputation,” said Akif. arabnews/news/462631 __________________
Posted on: Sat, 31 Aug 2013 20:15:20 +0000
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