Former minister, others acquitted in Hajj corruption case

Former Federal Minister for Religious Affairs of Pakistan Hamid Saeed Kazmi was acquitted by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday in the Hajj corruption cases.

The case was heard by Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani who also issued acquittal orders for former Director General (DG) Hajj Rao Shakeel and former Joint Secretary Religious Affairs Aftabul Islam. The IHC also declared the order of the trial court in the cases null and void.

On 3 June 2016, Special Judge Central Islamabad had announced prison sentences for the three accused in the case. Kazmi and Aftab had been sentenced to 16 years while Shakil had been awarded a 40-year prison sentence.

Kazmi and others were accused of hiring a substandard building on exorbitant rent to housing Pakistani pilgrims during Hajj and receiving kickbacks.

Source: GEO NEWS