Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony convened on Thursday to discuss a broad agenda including allegations against the Director General (Hajj) in Jeddah, issues related to the Hajj quota, and proposed amendments to the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961. The committee also addressed concerns over the alleged unauthorized transfer of Evacuee Trust Property Board land in Punjab.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the meeting was chaired by Senator Hafiz Abdul Karim in Senator Atta-ur-Rehman’s absence. The committee anticipated the attendance of the Director General (Hajj) to clarify allegations of non-cooperation during a committee chairman’s visit to Saudi Arabia, but he did not appear. The committee directed him to attend the next meeting to address these issues.
The committee reviewed concerns about the Hajj quota, noting a shortage of 21,708 slots and difficulties faced by pilgrims in 2026. The Minister for Religious Affairs promised adjustments to the quota and informed the committee about the establishment of an expert panel to oversee Hajj-related concerns, pending approval from the Prime Minister.
The discussion on amendments to the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance involved several Private Member’s Bills. The committee deferred consideration of Senator Syed Ali Zafar’s bill due to his absence. It examined Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri’s bill, which proposes definitions related to maintenance and amendments to Section 9, and noted the Council of Islamic Ideology’s (CII) objections.
Similarly, Senator Sarmad Ali’s bill on revising the Nikahnama form and penalizing non-compliant registrars was discussed, with the CII supporting parts of the amendment but expressing reservations over others. The committee decided to further review these proposals, considering the CII’s feedback.
The committee also addressed a query from Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi regarding the unauthorized transfer of ETPB land in Punjab. The transfers were declared invalid by the ETPB and the Ministry, but restoration of ownership remains pending due to non-cooperation from local revenue authorities.
The committee emphasized the need for further clarifications on these issues and urged relevant authorities to ensure progress in upcoming meetings.