Haj Tour Scam

The government has done a commendable job in streamlining Haj and Umrah operations by authorizing tour-operating companies to organize pilgrimages for local residents. However, most of these companies earn as much profit as possible and provide the minimal facilities possible to pilgrims, despite collecting huge amounts from them.

This year, I went on Haj with my family from Jubail through a Company which charged SR3,000 a person. Although the company provided good tent services at Mina and Arafat, the transportation was highly unsatisfactory. Their buses were very old and needed maintenance. During our journey from Jubail to Madinah, the bus broke down three times, throwing passengers into panic. The bus that took us from Madinah to Makkah did not have a proper air-conditioning system. Reaching Makkah in the early morning of Dhul Hijjah 8, we were dropped off near the Haram for Umrah and were asked by the driver to return after performing tawaf and sa’e. But when we came back, we did not find the bus. We, four families with children, were placed in a very difficult situation as no other transport was available and we were not aware of the location of the company’s tent. In the end, we reached the tent with the utmost difficulty. For every trip during the journey, we had to change buses which resulted in the loss of our luggage. The return to Jubail, on a rickety bus, was equally frustrating. It took almost 20 hours.

The authorities should monitor the facilities provided by these companies and the resources available before authorizing them to conduct Haj and Umrah tours.

M. Hafeez-ur-Rahman, Jubail published 13 January 2008

Appeal for Help

I wish to bring to your attention that my father, Taleb Hussian, was admitted to Riyadh Care Hospital after suffering a brain hemorrhage at our home on Dec. 25. He was rushed unconscious to the hospital and was immediately admitted as an emergency case. After various expensive tests, it was diagnosed that he had suffered a massive brain hemorrhage. He is still in a coma. I appeal to you to help us in our time of distress by supporting us both financially and with prayers. My father is at present in the Intensive Care (ICU) Bed No.6, Hospital Telephone No. 014933000. I would also request you to help us by telling my father’s condition to the Pakistani community. For further information, kindly contact Arif Sarwer, Mobile No. 0502113447.

Hassan Talib, Riyadh published 13 January 2008

Wasting Food

The report “Govt. Expects 30% Rise in Food Prices” (Jan. 5) warns us of worrying days to come, both for expatriates and locals. It is not just the prices. There is a shortage of food products worldwide. In this context, it always saddens me to see the quantity of food that is wasted because we do not care. I see people ordering food in restaurants and hotels, and leaving perhaps as much as 50 percent as waste.

We forget that the food we waste can stave off starvation in many parts of the world. Such waste is also a violation of the teaching of our Prophet (peace be upon him) that we should not waste anything, food in particular. Those of us who eat in restaurants should take care to order only the quantity that we can consume. Awareness must be created in society that it is economically, religiously and morally wrong to waste food. Government departments and social organizations should take the initiative in promoting this awareness. The waste of food means a waste of money which will automatically lead to price rises.

Mohiddin, Alkhobar published 13 January 2008

Price Hike

Due to the price hike affecting every aspect of life, from foodstuffs to house rent, life has been made extremely difficult for those working in the private sector. They cannot make ends meet, let alone save anything for their future, which was the main reason for them to leave their homes and families and come here. The prices have gone up by 30 to 40 percent in the past few months.

Immediately after ascending the throne, King Abdullah announced a 15 percent salary raise for all government employees. It was a gesture of magnanimity. However, it was sad that the royal order did not include the private sector employees who earn lower salaries compared to the government staff. An increase of even half of what the government servants got would have been a great relief for us. We now hear that the government sectors will have one more salary increase soon.

We request the government to order a salary hike for private sector employees also. It is well-known whose sweat and hard work built West Asian countries. They are the same people who are now struggling because of price hikes.

M.H.S., Riyadh published 13 January 2008

The Other Side

The other side of what S.H. Moulana presented as “The True Picture” (Jan. 4) of Sri Lankan Muslims is that the Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications was given to Rauff Hakeem just to give the impression that such an important portfolio was in the hands of a Muslim. Hence he was not given the charge of the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (TRC) which was under the ministry before Hakeem took over.

It’s illogical to claim that Hakeem had assurances from the opposition that once the JVPs voted against the budget, the government would be defeated. Even if all 38 JVP members had voted against the government, the government would have won because it had a majority of 47 votes. The two SLMC MPs who remained with the government were not elected by the people but were appointed by Hakeem under a national list. Both of them betrayed the Muslim community for ministerial perks as the government made overtures behind Hakeem.

When the sound pollution case was at the Supreme Court, it was the Environmental Ministry who intervened in the matter and canvassed for the prohibition in the use of loudspeakers. The ban on loudspeakers specifically affects the Azan, not only Fajr prayer but also all prayers as the noise exceeds the limits allowed.

Ellawela Mettananda Thero is a proxy of the government as the JHU is a coalition partner and the supporter of all bills of the government.

The government has strengthened the existing Animal Slaughter Law by strict implementation and there is an Animal Welfare Bill gazetted as a Private Member’s bill under the pretense of reducing cruelty to animals. It increases the maximum penalty for cruelty to animals from 100 rupees to 50,000 rupees maximum fine or three years in prison or both and banned home slaughter. This law mostly affects Muslims who eat meat and sacrifice animals for religious purposes.

P.T.A. Hassan, Madinah published 13 January 2008

Jamaat Is Different

Khawaja Umer Farooq was right, as a general rule, in claiming in his letter “Bilawal’s Democracy” (Jan. 6) that Pakistani politics have not been able to free itself from the monopoly control of some families. However, he made a mistake when he included Qazi Hussein Ahmed, amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, in the group along with Nawaz Sharif, Altaf Hussain, the Bhuttos, Fazlur Rahman of JUP and so on.

Jamaat-e-Islami is the only party in Pakistan which believes in true democracy and strictly implements democratic principles in inner-party functioning. Those holding any responsibility at any level in Jamaat are elected by party members as required by the party constitution. There is no family inheritance involved. Its founder and first amir, Moulana Abul Ala Maududi was from Hyderabad, Deccan, and Urdu-speaking; Mian Tufail Mohammad was from Lahore and Punjabi-speaking; and the current amir, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, is from Nowshera and is a Pashtoon. Does it look as if there were any family relation among these three amirs?

Nor is Khawaja’s generalization that all Pakistan parties are personal or feudal fiefdoms run by their dons true of Jamaat-e-Islami or its amirs. They are all from the middle class and none of them owned palaces or jagirs or business empires.

M. Rehman, Riyadh published 13 January 2008