Faizan Wani
Srinagar, Jul 21: The administration of Jammu & Kashmir Union Territory would soon convene a meeting of members of the Hajj Committee for electing the panel’s chairperson.
An official said that the meeting would be convened within the next 45 days as mandated under the law governing the constitution of the panel.
“The meeting has to be convened within the next 45 days. Out of seven members, six have voting rights. The executive officer, Hajj Committee, who is an ex-officio member, cannot take part in the election,” he said.
As per Hajj Committee Act, the State Government shall convene within forty-five days the first meeting of the state committee at which the state committee shall elect a Chairperson from amongst its members.
On Wednesday, the government appointed incumbent MP justice (retd.) Hasnain Masoodi, former MP Talib Hussain Choudhary and four others as members of Hajj Committee for J-K.
The other members appointed includes Safina Baig, who had joined the Peoples Conference last year but recently said that she would continue to remain as an independent candidate.
The others appointed as members of the committee include Muhammad Rafiq Chashti (Poonch), Molvi Muhammad Ashraf (Anantnag) and Syed Muhammad Rafiq (Ganderbal) presently residing in Srinagar).
According to the J&K government, the members have been appointed for a period of three years.