Nangarharis unhappy with hajj quota

JALALABAD (PAN quota for the eastern province.

A delegation from the Ministry of Hajj conducted a draw to select 1,520 people from Nangarhar for performing the religious ritual this year.

Hajj and Auqaf Director Maulvi, had submitted applications.

He said the ballot was underway in the presence of department officials, a delegation from Kabul and representatives of security organs, courts and the municipality.

Khairkhwa called Nangarhar an important province, given its population, security, trade activities and border with Pakistan. He urged the central government to increase the hajj quota for the province.

He also asked the government to arrange Hajj flights from Jalalabad, the provincial capital, like other zones of the country.

Provincial council secretary, Dr. Lal Mohammad Durrani, recalled 1,150 people had been selected for hajj last year. He said the province had been denied justice.

Badam Khan, 55, a resident of the Surkh Rod district, said he had been selected as a result of the draw. “I don’t know anyone in the hajj department. God has called me to Makkah.”

Governor Gul Agha Sherzai has requested the Ministry of Hajj to increase Nangarhar’s quota to 2,000, said his spokesman, Ahmad Zia Abdulzai. “We are not happy with the quota provided by the ministry.”

ma/mud

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