ISLAMABAD, Nov 20 Hours after President Asif Zardari issued a directive to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to probe reports of irregularities and mismanagement in hiring of accommodation for Haj pilgrims in Makkah, the Prime Minister's House on Saturday issued a handout saying that Yousuf Raza Gilani had ordered an inquiry into the inadequate arrangements and summoned the Director General of Haj to Pakistan.

In another major move, the prime minister ordered that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should coordinate all arrangements at the government-to-government level for Haj.

The cabinet had decided in May to increase the role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Haj arrangements.

These two inquiries are in addition to the pending suo motu action initiated by the Supreme Court even before the start of Haj on the basis of a letter from Prince Bandar bin Khalid bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia about alleged anomalies committed in allotment of accommodation to Pakistani pilgrims in Makkah.

Moreover, the Saudi government had also reportedly taken notice and ordered an inquiry over complaints that 20,000 Pakistani pilgrims didn't get sufficient tents and other facilities in Mina.

“The prime minister has ordered an immediate inquiry into the inadequate arrangements made by the Haj Directorate for Pakistani Hajis and has immediately recalled the director general of Haj to Pakistan,” an official handout said.

Sultan Shah, the DG Haj, had been sent to Saudi Arabia after removal of the previous director, Rao Shakil, who is already facing an inquiry.

As the handout made no mention of the official who had been recalled, there was a confusion even at the religious affairs ministry whether Mr Gilani had called back Mr Shah or the handout was referring to the summoning of Rao Shakil a few weeks ago.

The prime minister stated that shifting of responsibility and blame game were “unacceptable”.

APP adds Hamid Saeed Kazmi, the federal Minister for Religious Affairs, said on Saturday that Haj arrangements made by the Saudi government were excellent.

Talking to news TV channels, he said problems were faced by Pakistani pilgrims in five 'Maktabs' in Mina as facilities which should have been provided by contractors, hired by 'Muasasa' for South Asia, were available. The 'Muasasa' was misguided by its contractors, he added.

“As we received the information about missing facilities in Mina, the concerned authorities were contacted and the entire situation was brought to their notice.”

He clarified that provision of facilities in Mina was not a responsibility of the Saudi government. Instead, a contractor was responsible as he had promised to compensate Pakistani pilgrims.

The Maktabs had to be shifted to a new place due to unavoidable circumstances.

He said the arrangements in the newly established five Maktabs dedicated to Pakistani pilgrims were not completed in time.

He dispelled a perception that the Saudi government had thrown hints about payment of any compensation.

President Zardari on Friday had directed the FIA to investigate the messing up of accommodation arrangements in Makkah. Sources told Dawn that the FIA had already requested the ministry of religious affairs to hand over the record of the hiring of the buildings in Saudi Arabia.

According to President's Spokesman Farhatullah Babar, Mr Zardari took the action after receiving a number of complaints by the pilgrims directly from Makkah.