Irregularities involving Hajj tour operators linked to Mufti Abrar, a close associate of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, have come under regulatory scrutiny after the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) issued show-cause notices to three companies.
According to details, Sajjad Travels & Tours, Al Rehab International and Shukar Al Faizan Travels have been served notices over non-compliance with beneficial ownership disclosure requirements under the Companies Act, 2017.
The development has raised questions about corporate transparency within businesses associated with individuals close to Fazlur Rehman’s political circle.
Al Rehab International has been directed to submit details of its beneficial owners for 2023, while the other two companies have been asked to explain their failure to meet mandatory ownership disclosure requirements.
All three companies have been given 14 days to respond to the SECP notices.
The controversy has brought the business connections of Mufti Abrar under renewed attention, particularly given the sensitive nature of Hajj services and the importance of financial and corporate transparency in businesses serving pilgrims.
Questions remain over why the required ownership information was not submitted, who ultimately controls the companies, and what business relationship, if any, exists between Mufti Abrar and the firms concerned.
The regulatory action also places a spotlight on accountability within politically connected business circles, where public expectations of transparency remain particularly high.
