The Saudi government has offered to bear Hajj expenses of 72 relatives of 24 Pakistani pilgrims who died during stampede at Jamarat during Hajj last year, a senior Pakistani official said. Three relatives of each pilgrim who died in stampede will be sent for Hajj-2005, Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary Vakil Ahmed Khan said. He said that after complete identification, the relatives of the pilgrims who died in the stampede would be sent for Hajj. The Saudi government would bear all expenses in this regard, he added. Thirty-one Pakistani pilgrims had died during the stampede, Khan said adding that of them 24 pilgrims were there for performing Hajj while seven were Iqama (residence permit) holders. The secretary said the Saudi government had announced compensation for relatives of those who had come for Hajj from Pakistan and died in the stampede during Hajj last year.
