Former federal minister for Religious Affairs, Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi has challenged a 12-year jail sentence awarded to him by a Special Judge Central, Islamabad in the infamous Hajj corruption scandal case. On June 03, Special Judge, Malik Nazir Ahmad awarded 30-years imprisonment to Rao Shakeel the former director general Hajj, and 12-years imprisonment to Aftab Ahmed the former additional secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs in the Hajj corruption case.
Filing a criminal appeal under Section 10 of the West Pakistan Criminal Law Amendment Act 1958 against the impugned judgement of June 3, 2016, passed by Malik Nazir Ahmed, Special Judge Central Islamabad, Kazmi made the state as respondent. "It is most humbly prayed that instant appeal may kindly be accepted and sentence recorded through the impugned judgment/order of June 3, 2016 passed by the learned Special judge Central, Islamabad may very kindly be set aside and the appellant may very graciously be acquitted honourably in the best interest of justice", Kazmi pleaded the Islamabad High Court (IHC). Kazmi also filed another petition before the IHC, through his counsel Sardar Latif Khosa, seeking bail in the matter.