The Supreme Court on Monday sought a detailed report from the Ministry of Religious Affairs on charging extra Rs 5,000 from the Hajj pilgrims for providing them accommodation. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chuadhry also directed Additional Attorney General for Pakistan (AAGP) Shah Khawar to submit the report regarding reappointment of 20 retired recruits in the Ministry of Religious Affairs while hearing the Hajj corruption case.
During the course of proceedings, the AAGP apprised the court that foreign ministry, Interpol and diplomatic channels had made three-year long efforts to bring Ahmed Faiz, an offender, back to the country from Saudi Arabia, but they could not succeed. The offender was not handed over to the FIA. The Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) submitted a progress of inquiry before the bench and apprised that Rs 5.2 million had been recovered in this regard.
The director informed the bench that Rs 11 million in cash was recovered from Rao Shakil, ex-Director General Hajj, and his property was attached for the rest of amount. He also said all the accounts of Hamid Saeed, former minister for religious affairs, had also been frozen.
According to a report, a transaction of 10,000 pounds was made from Saeed's account in a British bank, but how much amount he had in that account was not yet ascertained, he added. The FIA official said the statements of 49 witnesses had been recorded whereas the rest six would record soon. The Chief Justice questioned why Rs 5,000 had not yet been returned to the pilgrims. The representative of religious affairs ministry apprised the amount had been given to 400 pilgrims, while 84,100 would be given the payment soon. Seeking detailed report from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the bench adjourned the hearing till November 20.
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