DHAKA: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said 15,000 illegal pilgrims have been prevented from performing Haj because they lacked permits.

The prince, who is also the head of the Hajj Central Committee, said 63 unlicensed Haj-catering companies were discovered, of which one was in the Eastern Province carrying 150 pilgrims in three buses.

The prince headed the committee’s meeting on Thursday in the new government complex at the holy sites.

He said 55 persons accused of transporting illegal pilgrims were arrested and that 12,200 cars carrying Haj violators were returned. Haj regulations violators numbered 3,429 in total.

Prince Khaled inspected the holy sites and ongoing projects Thursday and was accompanied by the Haj committee’s members and senior officials from several departments.

He later inspected the Qarn Al-Manazil Miqat and was briefed on the services introduced to pilgrims there. He also inspected the forces and the ambulance centers as well as the checkpoints at Makkah`s entrances and the fingerprinting system used to nab violators. He also checked preparations and facilities for hosting pilgrims in Mina and Muzdalifa.

The prince visited the projected government department complex that is being executed on an area spanning more than 2 million sq. meters at the holy sites. Departments with stations in the area will be transferred to the complex upon completion.

He also launched the 14th Makkah Conference, which is being held under the auspices of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

The 3-day conference is organized by the Muslim World League in Makkah and is themed “Human Rights between Shariah and International Conventions.”

Source: arabnews
BDST: 1300 HRS, OCT 11, 2013
AKA/GCP