JEDDAH: The federal government has directed Director General Hajj Abdul Wahab Soomro to report to the Establishment Division with immediate effect, while Muhammad Arif Aslam, a Grade-19 officer currently serving as Director Hajj in Makkah, has been assigned the additional charge of Director General Hajj, Jeddah.
According to a notification issued by the Establishment Division on October 19, Aslam has been given the additional charge for three months or until the appointment of a regular officer, whichever comes first.
The development marks a significant administrative change in the Directorate General of Hajj, which oversees arrangements and facilities for Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
Soomro has been directed to report to the Establishment Division immediately, while Aslam will assume the additional responsibilities alongside his existing duties.
The move comes amid reports of questions being raised over pilgrim facilities and administrative arrangements during Soomroβs tenure. Claims of alleged financial irregularities have also reportedly surfaced in connection with internal reports and audit documents of the Ministry of Religious Affairs. However, the specific allegations and their official status could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.
Sources have also claimed that Soomro continued to hold the post for three to four months beyond his prescribed tenure.
The Establishment Divisionβs notification, as described in the available information, does not specify the reasons for Soomroβs recall. No official statement detailing the grounds for the administrative decision was included in the information available for this report.
