LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has clarified that it had not allowed Shia women to perform Haj this year without `mehram`.

However, the court said the religious affairs ministry had informed it that a list of female applicants could be provided to them who had applied for Haj facilities as per the Shia Figh.

The LHC clarification came in response to a report published in Dawn`s Tuesday issue under the headline, `Shia women allowed to perform Haj without mehram` A written order released by the media cell of the court on Tuesday said: `Director of Haj sought time to produce the record as required by the court on the last date of hearing. The Deputy Attorney General (DAG) appeared in the court and stated the a list may be provided to them with names of specific female candidates, who have applied for Haj facilities as per the Shia Fiqh, who are not able to go for Haj as per arguments of the learned counsel for the petitioner.

`The DAG further stated that accordingly, the department will verify whether there is any provision to facilitate such candidates on the basis of available quota with the tour operators and the prevailing policy.

Justice Ayesha A. Malik adjourned the hearing of the petition bled by a Shia woman to Oct 14.