Muslim groups to honour Haj committee chief

A week after an Islamic organisation condemned the appointment of a Muslim woman to a managerial post of the central Haj Committee, three city-based Muslim organisations have announced their plans to felicitate Roohi Khan, the committee’s new deputy chief executive officer (CEO).

A week after an Islamic organisation condemned the appointment of a Muslim woman to a managerial post of the central Haj Committee, three city-based Muslim organisations have announced their plans to felicitate Roohi Khan, the committee’s new deputy chief executive officer (CEO).

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Representatives of the Milli Council, the World Memon Committee and the Muslim Front met Khan at her Fort office on Wednesday, and plan to organise a felicitation programme for her with college-going Muslim girls.

“We want to show her that most of the Muslim community, particularly women, are in support of her,” said MA Khalid, general secretary of the Milli Council, who hopes to organise the function soon after the junior college admissions are over. “Through the felicitation, we want to inspire Muslim girls to study and reach great heights.”

Last month, Khan became the first woman to be appointed to the post of the Haj Committee’s deputy CEO. The Raza Academy, a Sunni Muslim organisation, has objected to this appointment by claiming that Islam does not permit women to take up jobs involving interaction with men. Several Islamic organisations have, however, rejected this claim. “Islam does not prohibit women from working in any field,” said Khalid, adding that the felicitation programme will include a seminar on the rights of women in Islam to drive home this point. Khan did not wish to comment on the controversy raised by the Raza Academy. “This is a democratic country and everyone has a right to say what they feel,” she said.