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Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Senator Talha Mehmood said on Saturday that Rs55,000 for Eidul Azha sacrifice have been returned to Hujjaj before they leave for Hajj, adding that the Ministry of Religious Affairs is trying to return more money to Hujjaj by reducing expenses.
While talking to a private TV channel, he said that the money had been transferred to the accounts of Hujjaj.
“I will go on Hajj at my own expense. I will also pay for my employees who are going on Hajj with me,” he stated.
“There is a lot of pressure on me, but I will not let anyone to go on Hajj for free,” he pledged.
“For God’s sake, everyone going on Hajj should go as a Muslim and represent his country instead of showing his affiliation with PML-N, PTI and JUI,” he appealed.
“Politics can be done after coming back from Hajj. But there one should be a Pakistani only,” he added.
Earlier, he announced that the ministry was refunding Rs 55,000 as ‘Qurbani amount’ to both regular and sponsorship scheme pilgrims before their departure to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
This decision was made in accordance with the special instructions of Religious Affairs Minister Senator Muhammad Talha Mehmood, a ministry news release said.
The ministry advised the pilgrims of both regular and sponsorship schemes to collect Rs 55,000 from their respective banks before their departure for Hajj as the same would not be reimbursed to them in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi government-run Qurbani booths, it said, would be available near government residences, providing a hassle-free process for purchasing the coupons.
“In the event of any issues or difficulties in acquiring the Qurbani amount, they can lodge a complaint with the accounts officer of the ministry directly at 0519208552,” it maintained.
