Ali Ghersan Okaz/Saudi Gazette MAKKAH — The administrative court has granted time to the Ministry of Haj to respond to the complaints of tawafa organizations about the ministry's decision to dissolve the Tawafa Establishment for South Asian Pilgrims, an umbrella organization of “mutawwifs” or Haj guides catering to pilgrims from South Asian countries, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The ministry's legal department has been investigating a number of tawafa groups and mutawwifs for violations during the last Haj season. A final report is expected within 15 days. The department has also prepared a report regarding the minister's decision to be presented to the court. Differences within the newly constituted South Asian Establishment have led to two members resigning. The deputy minister of Haj said all violators will be tried before a special commission. He, however, said there was no relation whatsoever between the decision to dissolve the South Asian Establishment and the ongoing investigations. He added that the ministry would abide by the court's ruling on the issue. Dr. Bandar Hajjar, Minister of Haj, dissolved the board of directors of the Tawafa Establishment for South Asia and constituted a new board in November 2012 immediately after Haj. The ministry then launched investigations into a series of alleged violations committed by various field offices during the Haj season. The ministry suspended heads of four field service offices in connection with allegations that they tried to sell off plots of land meant for pilgrims' camps in the holy sites, among other charges. According to initial findings by investigators, the area of campsites allocated for South Asian pilgrims through these four offices had decreased considerably during last Haj. This was allegedly because some of the land designated for these pilgrims had been sold off to other tawafa groups.
