PDP president Mehbooba Mufti first ever Indian woman to lead Haj delegation

MECCA: Jammu and Kashmir's ruling PDP president Mehbooba Mufti has become the first ever Indian woman to lead a Haj delegation.

Mehbooba along with J&K Education Minister Naeem Akhtar was among about 7,000 pilgrims from the state who performed the Haj during this year's pilgrimage.

"Lok Sabha member from Kashmir Mehbooba Mufti is here for Haj. She is leading the two-member Indian Haj delegation," officials in the Indian consulate at Jeddah told PTI.

People's Democratic Party chief Mehbooba, daughter of J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, became the first Indian woman to lead a delegation to the Haj.

The other member of the delegation is BJP leader from Madhya Pradesh Mohammad Anwar Khan.

Jammu and Kashmir Education Minister Naeem Akhtar also performed Haj through a private tour operator.

Nearly 7,000 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are on Haj pilgrimage this year with 6,700 coming with the Haj Committee of India while the rest are here with private tour operators.

Two pilgrims from the state were also among those injured in the stampede in Mina yesterday that killed 717 people including 14 Indians.