Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is expected to approach the concerned court to obtain the warrants for former Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani as he has failed to appear before the agency on July 16 in Hajj corruption case. The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the FIA headed by its director Hussain Asghar had issued a final notice to Gilani on July 12 to appear before FIA team on July 16 to record his statement to clarify the charges against him in connection with the scandal.
The ex-prime minister did not appear before the investigation team; due to which the FIA is likely to move Anti Corruption Court or a court of magistrate to obtain his arrest warrant; FIA sources said. They said the FIA had previously issued Gilani two notices but he never appeared before the FIA team investigating the matter. According to sources, former prime minister is facing charges of illegal appointments of Rao Shakeel as director general Hajj and Zain Sukhera as consultant of IT Ministry in the Hajj scam.
Gilani, while replying to previous notices of FIA had claimed that he, as the prime minister of Pakistan enjoyed immunity of all his official acts under the provisions of Article 248 of the Constitution. Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that only the apex court could decide on the question of immunity and no one, including Gilani, could claim immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution. The hearing was adjourned to July 23.