ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi on Monday told the Supreme Court there was corruption in Haj arrangements, however, “this year, corruption was lesser than the previous years”.
A six-member special SC bench, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing a suo motu case against the irregularities and corruption in Haj arrangements.
The court directed the Religious Affairs Ministry to pay back 700 Saudi Riyals to each person who was not provided with adequate facilities during haj.
The court barred Religious Affairs Secretary Agha Sarwar Qazilbash from traveling abroad except on official tours with prior permission from the prime minister. The court also directed the FIA director general to appear before the court at the next hearing and put the name of the former Haj director general Rao Shakeel Ahmed on the exit control list (ECL).
Appearing on notice, Kazmi said he wanted to respond to the allegations leveled against him.
He said corruption charges were leveled against him, however no proof had been submitted in the court.
He said a media campaign had been started for his character assassination. The chief justice inquired whether the media was his enemy, adding that the “media criticised the judiciary round the clock and we corrected ourselves in the light of that criticism”.
The chief justice observed that the court would not stop taking notices against corruption. Pointing towards Kazmi, the CJ said, “You did not spare the sacred religious obligation (Haj) of corruption.”
Justice Javed Iqbal observed that the FIA could not probe independently as “you are a sitting federal minister”.
Kazmi said he was facing life threats, upon which the chief justice remarked that “Allah protects all of us.”
The court reprimanded the religious affairs secretary and asked him how can an accused be appointed Haj DG?
The secretary replied that he was aware about Rao Shakeel’s corruption. Justice Javed Iqbal remarked, “You are a federal secretary and you should be aware of all matters.” The secretary failed to satisfy the court. Establishment Division Secretary Khushnood Akhtar Lashari submitted a report regarding Shakeels’ appointment as the Haj DG.
