The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Monday completed its investigation in Hajj corruption case while a comprehensive report will be submitted in the Court of Special Judge Central Khalid Shabbir here on May 23.
The FIA team in its findings declared former minister for Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi 'innocent', former director general (Hajj Rao Shakeel 'main accused' and former joint secretary (Hajj) Aftab-ul-Islam Raja 'co-accused' in hiring residential buildings for Pakistani Hujjaj at exorbitant rates in 2009.
The FIA investigators found no evidence against former minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, whereas Rao Shakeel hired accommodation facilities for pilgrims at expensive rates and Raja continued endorsing his (Rao's) decisions, Senior Public Prosecutor of FIA 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 per cent. They hired some under construction buildings, which created more difficulties for Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, he added.
Besides submitting the report, Chaudhry Zulfiqar said the court would be requested to initiate a trial under the Challan submitted by FIA in February this year. Under the directives of the Supreme Court, the trial has to be completed by August 18. A committee, led by Parliamentary Secretary for Religious Affairs Mehboobullah Jan, had visited Saudi Arabia soon after completion of the post-Hajj flight operations 2009 to get feedback on arrangements made for Pakistani pilgrims.
Subsequently, the five-member Parliamentary committee submitted its report based on findings and recommendations to the then minister for Religious Affairs, pointing out billions of rupees corruption in acquiring residential buildings for Hujjaj. The delegation had obtained feedback from Hujjaj in Mina and Madina about the facilities provided by Pakistan's Hajj Mission, but majority of the pilgrims were unhappy with the performance of the staff deputed to facilitate them.
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