MADINA: The Saudi government handed over a check of SR6.65 million to the visiting Pakistani federal minister for religious affairs to compensate over 26,000 Pakistani pilgrims who fell victim to a Haj scam this year run by a Pakistani Haj official. Minister Syed Hamid Kazmi was given the check by the Saudi Minister of Haj Fuad Farsy, following the accusation raised against the head of the Pakistani Haj mission Rao Shakeel of stealing SR6.5 million allocated for housing 26,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Mina during this year's Haj. The pilgrims had no accommodation and had to be housed at other camps throughout Mina. The SR6.65 million-check would help cover the mission's financial deficit allegedly caused by Shakeel. On his arrival in Islamabad later Thursday, Kazmi lauded the role of Saudi Arabia for fast processing of the compensation cases, adding that Pakistan considered the compensation as a token of love from Saudi brothers. The Pakistani government had earlier dispatched its minister of Haj to Jeddah a few days ago to investigate the matter. Omar Farooq Khokhar, Deputy Director of the Haj Directorate in Pakistan, said a decision has been made to fire Shakil. He will be questioned and possibly stand trial in Islamabad. He said the housing crisis emerged when Shakil revoked a contract worth SR6.5 million for the housing of 26,000 Pakistani pilgrims in Mina.
