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Chief Justice slams inaction in Haj scam

ISLAMABAD - Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry slammed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday for inaction in the Haj corruption case.

By Afzal Khan

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Published: Sun 13 Mar 2011, 12:05 AM

Last updated: Tue 19 May 2020, 6:01 PM

The chief justice, who headed the bench hearing the case, questioned that why no action had been taken against those people who had appointed former Director-General Haj Rao Shakeel, even though his appointment was illegal.
The court also observed that no action had been taken against Ahmad Faiz, the main accused in the case.
Director of FIA Hussain Asghar told the court that former religious affairs minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi had appointed Ahmad Faiz, while FIA’s additional director said that the agency was facing difficulties in ascertaining the actual amount embezzled in the Haj scam.
Prime minister’s son Abdul Qadir Gilani was accused by parliamentarians probing the scam of being instrumental in the appointment of Rao Shakeel and some other officers for some consideration even though Shakeel was implicated in corrupt practices as head of Multan Development Authority. Gilani has denied the charges.
The parliamentary panel found gross irregularities and graft in hiring accommodation for Pakistani Haj pilgrims in the holy city of Makkah at much higher rates than then prevalent market rents.
The Supreme Court took suo motu notice on a letter from a Saudi prince who alleged that the Pakistani officials ignored his much lower offer for accommodation closer to the Holy Kaaba.
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