Hajj Corruption Scandal: IHC acquits former Minister Hamid Saaed Kazmi, DG Rao Shakeel
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ISLAMABAD – The Islamabad High Court on Monday acquitted former religious affairs minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Rao Shakeel and Aftab Islam in Hajj corruption scandal.
The verdict was announced by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani of the IHC.
Former federal minister for religious affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, was sentenced to 16 years in jail in the Hajj corruption case in June last year.
Judge Malik Nazir Ahmad from special court central, a lower court, also sentenced Director General (DG) Haj Rao Shakeel to 40 years in prison. Joint secretary for religious affairs Aftab Aslam was also sentenced to 16 years in prison.
The trio filed appeal in Islamabad High Court which sought complete relevant record from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Islamabad High Court Judge Mohsan Akhtar Kyani after a series of hearings acquitted Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Rao Shakeel and Aftab Islam. Hamid Saeed Kazmi is still behind the bars.
The Hajj corruption scandal had surfaced in 2010 when former Minister for Science and Technology Azam Swati levelled corruption allegations against then Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi.
