Hajj Policy
The Fitra system for Hajjis means the Hajj Agent will collect Hajjis at a rate much lower than the rate declared by the government. They generally allure the intending Hajjis telling that their accommodation at Mecca will be very close to holy Haram, and the Hajjis fall in their trap and what actually they do is take them to Mecca and keep them in a house near to holy Haram and after three or five days the Hajjis are taken to Medina Sharif and from there they are escorted to Mina just on the 8th day of Zilhaj and after five days of Hajj rituals at Mina, then to Arafa, Arafa to Mujdalifa and then again to Mina. Thus all the formalities are closed and the Hajis are kept in a house near to Mina at Azizia or Shirsha from where the distance of holy Haram is not less than nine to ten kilometers. Then the Hajjis of this Fitra system face a great problemthe problem is to cross the big way to come to the holy Haram and engage themselves in Ibadat.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs is very much aware of this fact and this system was annulled in the current five year Hajj Policy. Some influential quarters pressurised the department concerned and an amendment was brought to the Hajj Policy. The said amendment was placed before the cabinet a few days ago and it was rejected. Now as per the existing Hajj Policy, Hajjis will have to be kept in the same house where they will be kept on arrival at holy Mecca. So, the govt. deserves thanks for this bold step.
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