Only valid passport holders allowed at Haj 2011: SHC
Srinagar, Dec 26 : No application of those intending to undertake Haj-2011, will be considered without valid passport, Executive Officer (EO) of the State Haj Committee (SHC) said.
He said the Hajj Committee of India has decided that only passport holders will be asked to apply for Haj-2011.
He said therefore all the intending pilgrims are requested to apply for passports immediately and obtain international passports before the formal announcements of Haj-2011.
Only passport holders will be preferred at the time of draw of lottery, he said.
The Saudi Arabia government has not been allowing any Haj pilgrim to enter the country without holding an International passport for the past few years.
Earlier, pilgrims from different countries, including India , were traveling to holy cities for performing the pilgrimage on special passports.
However, because it was time consuming at Jeddah airport to clear these pilgrims travelling on permits, the Saudi Government decided to allow only passport holders to undertake the pilgrimage.
For the past two years, the Haj pilgrims selected through draw of lotteries by different states in the country, were issued passports
He said therefore all the intending pilgrims are requested to apply for passports immediately and obtain international passports before the formal announcements of Haj-2011.
Only passport holders will be preferred at the time of draw of lottery, he said.
The Saudi Arabia government has not been allowing any Haj pilgrim to enter the country without holding an International passport for the past few years.
Earlier, pilgrims from different countries, including India , were traveling to holy cities for performing the pilgrimage on special passports.
However, because it was time consuming at Jeddah airport to clear these pilgrims travelling on permits, the Saudi Government decided to allow only passport holders to undertake the pilgrimage.
For the past two years, the Haj pilgrims selected through draw of lotteries by different states in the country, were issued passports
on priority without verifications from police and intelligence agencies.
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