Pakistan’s Hajj mission would have no female Hajj aides for the first time in history to assist women pilgrims performing Hajj in Saudi Arabia, Zahid Gishkori reports for Samaa News.
This year, approximately 80,000 Pakistani pilgrims, including over 8,000 women, will perform Hajj. Federal Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Maulana Abdul Shakoor has decided not to send women officials with the pilgrims.
Women officers who were barred from accompanying pilgrims have written to Federal Ombudsperson for Harassment Kashmala Tariq, calling the minister’s action “misogynistic” and “discriminatory”.
“The illogical ground of this policy is depriving us from our constitutional right of equality, which resulted in discrimination [and] caused ridicule to all women officers and officials of the ministry,” reads the letter. The letter has signatures of seven officials.
Officials also criticised the secretary, who serves as the ministry’s administrative head, for his “lack of opposition”.
They went on to say that the secretary is normally obligated to carry with the minister’s decision under the ministry’s Rule of Business, 1973.
Read more- 200 officials to reportedly fly for Hajj on govt expenses, PM takes notice
The women have accused ministry officials of surrendering to the ‘radical mindset’ of the minister.
