Seven remaining flights secured by the National Hajj Committee (NHC) for this year's Hajj, which started on a successful note last Monday, run the risk of being derailed, following a court order obtained by one Afa Hakeem, a member of the former interim Hajj Committee instituted by former Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama in 2008 against the current National Hajj Committee. This has created immense anxieties and concerns among Pilgrims and the Muslim Community in the country given that there are only a few days left for the commencement of the Hajj in the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Two batches of Hajj Pilgrims had, at the time of this action, been already airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj by the NHC after interactions at the Hajj Village at the El Wak Stadium with the Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama. The Plaintiff is claiming $241,000 which he claims to have given to the Interim Hajj Committee then, in furtherance of its activities which monies he is claiming from the current committee. The plaintiff who obtained a default judgement on the matter went via a substituted service sought the attachment of the committee's bank account. Consequently, the committee's bank account has been frozen and thus posing a serious threat to the continued smooth operations of the Hajj this year. The order which was directed at the Intercontinental Bank in Accra has the effect of paralysing the committee's finances and therefore, its operations. A source at the Hajj Committee which expressed serious concern about the ramifications for this year's Hajj and for Muslims in general questioned the timing and motive for this action of Hakeem's. The source indicated that at no point in time has the Hajj committee been notified or made aware of the said monies purported to have been given to the former Interim Hajj Committee by the Plaintiff and therefore had been taken completely unawares. "Indeed we smell some mischief and sinister motive in this matter, especially so when everything has moved so smoothly for us to secure another successful Hajj operations as happened last year. Some people don't want this success and want to see Muslims in distress and difficulties as happened in the past, so that it could serve their parochial interest, "the source opined. According to the source the bank is due to appear before the Fast Track High Court on November 9, 2010 for hearing of the matter, a date which would have been too late for the Hajj operations to continue. "This is an abuse of the legal process over a frivolous and vexatious matter intended to prevent the Muslim population from carrying out a sacred religious duty, which no sincere Muslims would impose on Muslim brothers and sisters." the source charged. The Hajj Committee, however appealed to Pilgrims and the Muslim Community to remain calm as everything was being done to ensure that the Hajj proceeds smoothly. In all about 3,000 Pilgrims are expected to patronise the Hajj this year. Source: Daily graphic