Hamid Kazmi found 'innocent' in Hajj scandal
22 May, 2012
RAWALPINDI: A Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team on Monday completed its investigation in Hajj corruption case and found former minister for religious affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi 'innocent', former Hajj director general Rao Shakeel 'main accused' and former joint secretary (Hajj) Aftabul Islam Raja 'co-accused' in hiring residential buildings for Pakistani pilgrims at exorbitant rates in 2009.
The FIA will submit a comprehensive report of its findings in the court of Special Judge Central Khalid Shabbir tomorrow (Wednesday). The FIA investigators found no evidence against former minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, whereas Rao Shakeel hired expensive accommodation for pilgrims and Raja continued endorsing his (Rao's) decisions, FIA Senior Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar said while talking to APP.
He said the accused paid 55 percent rent of the 87 acquired buildings in advance, while under the set procedure, it was to be paid at the rate of 15 percent. They hired some under-construction buildings, which created more difficulties for Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, he added.
Besides submitting the report, Zulfiqar said the court would be requested to initiate a trial under the challan submitted by the FIA in February this year. On the directives of the Supreme Court, the trial has to be completed by August 18.
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