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LAHORE: The Ministry of Religious Affairs undertook before the Lahore High Court on Friday to rephrase a question in the Haj application form, “Are you Shia?”, to “Do you require Shia facilities?” as it offended the community.
A deputy attorney general submitted an undertaking to the court on behalf of the secretary of the religious affairs ministry during the hearing of a petition filed by Syed Ali Hadi and others, questioning the alleged discrimination against the Shia community during Haj.
They complained that the authorities did not provide facilities to Shia pilgrims as per their sect.
Barrister Syeda Maqsooma Zahra Bokhari, representing the petitioners, said the Shia community had been subjected to discrimination, adding that a Shia applicant had to answer the “offending question”. She requested the court to order the ministry to amend the question in the Haj application form.
Justice Ayesha A. Malik disposed of the petition in the light of the ministry’s undertaking.
Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2016
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Comments (28) Closed
Apr 02, 2016 07:31am
This question in one form or other should be removed altogether as the intent of asking this question is obvious in either way. Government of Pakistan is obliged to facilitate the Muslims to perform hajj. It is not the responsibility of government to facilitate the way hajj has to be performed and pilgrim has to make his/ her own arrangements in this regard. I think this question puts the life at risk and should be removed.
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Apr 02, 2016 07:52am
That's really good to see. Spread tolerance, love and respect for everyone.
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Apr 02, 2016 07:53am
Its a non-issue. Will it be offensive to ask a Muslim in Pakistan "are you a Muslim?". So far as the sentiments are concerned, minorities they are directly offended. Plz remove the root causes of extremism and intolerance.
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Apr 02, 2016 07:59am
If there's a question on the form:
Are you Sunni?
I'll proudly answer it Yes.
What is there to offend?
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Apr 02, 2016 08:19am
What is offending in this statement?
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Apr 02, 2016 08:28am
OMG is this really a question mentioned in Hajj Application ? surprised i mean we all are Muslim no sect no shia no sunni .
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Apr 02, 2016 08:56am
Really absurd question.
Don't make any sense at all.
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Apr 02, 2016 09:06am
Facilities are neither shia nor sunni. I hope some sane writer or linguist tells government to rephrase it more apporpriately e.g. do you need facilities in accordance with Fiqah e Jafariyah?
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Apr 02, 2016 09:14am
For performing Haj, one has to be Muslim. Who cares what sect you belong to. That is completely irrelevant.
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Apr 02, 2016 09:30am
Previously there was no question regarding one's sect and I never heard of any problem from any quarters. There are no separate Haj facilities for different sects in Saudi Arabia.
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Apr 02, 2016 09:35am
What difference does it make to change the question asking whether someone wants Shia facilities? You are changing a few words but both questions have same meaning. If they are not provided facilities they need or face discrimination, then proper arrangements should be made to give them required facilities and people be educated to appreciate and live in harmony with eacch other.
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Apr 02, 2016 09:46am
There's any easy alternative to this problem. Change the question to "Are You Sunni?". I'm sure this won't offend anyone.
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Apr 02, 2016 09:53am
Yes I require Shia facilities.
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Apr 02, 2016 09:54am
@adnan khan wow..what ignorance.
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Apr 02, 2016 10:01am
@nadir baloach I so admire what you suggest and that is sensible and so true
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Apr 02, 2016 10:14am
are shia facility different from shia facilities?
in what way can someone please explain, I am a non muslim and am no aware of the difference
Thanks
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Apr 02, 2016 10:17am
@nadir baloach
if we are not shia nor sunni then why govt registers mosques on sect basis. you are denying the fact.
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Apr 02, 2016 10:32am
It was long overdue. The right step in the right direction.
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Apr 02, 2016 10:59am
What are Shia facilities in Hajj btw?
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Apr 02, 2016 11:16am
Why should there be sectarian question?
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Apr 02, 2016 11:27am
mark whatever you want. If someone thinks its discriminatory, which it looks, just left the field empty. Or mark it whatever.
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Apr 02, 2016 11:39am
I was Hajj last year. It's a good idea to ask this question as it helps ministry and Saudi govt
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Apr 02, 2016 01:28pm
A better question would be "Are you Shia or Sunni".
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Apr 02, 2016 01:29pm
Good job
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Apr 02, 2016 01:43pm
What "facilities" can be said to be Shia? Can anyone please answer this?
Hajj is Hajj and a place for Muslims to unite under one God and faith. Shia questions or Sunni questions should be left out.
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Apr 02, 2016 01:54pm
An appropriate thing to do is to remove any questions pertaining to religion or sects etc. from all government forms and documents. There is no need for this discrimination
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Apr 02, 2016 02:43pm
Good Idea,
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Apr 02, 2016 05:52pm
@stnemmoC ....yes it matters, visas for Iran and Iraq doesn't ask "Are you a Sunni? "
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