ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday directed Religious Affairs Secretary Sarwar Qazalbash to submit before the court a certificate pertaining to return of 1,000 Saudi riyals each to the pilgrims who were not provided with adequate facilities during the performance of Hajj.
A seven-member special bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Tasadduq Hussain Jilani, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday is hearing a suo motu case against the alleged corruption in Hajj arrangements. The court also directed FIA Director General Waseem Ahmed to complete the probe into the alleged corruption in Hajj arrangements by January 6 and submit his report. The Religious Affairs secretary told the court that the Acting Hajj DG would return 1,000 Saudi riyals to each affected pilgrim. The court directed the secretary to submit before the court a certificate in this regard on the next date of hearing.
Federal Science and Technology Minister Azam Swati, presented to the court proofs of the Hajj scandal and a written statement against Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi. He said he was ready to say on oath that the Religious Affairs secretary had made a statement on December 9 at his residence that the Religious Affairs minister was involved in the Hajj corruption.
The court directed Swati and Bilal Yasin to get their statements recorded by the FIA. In support of his allegations, Swati also submitted an audio CD of conversation of Kazmi’s brother-in-law with tour operators and a proof about transfer of Rs 0.2 million in Faysal Bank in his account by the tour operators.
In reply to an allegation levelled by MNA Bilal Yasin, Latif Khosa told the court that he was contesting the case of Kazmi free of cost. FIA DG Waseem Ahmed informed the court that a team headed by Interpol Pakistan Director Hussain Asghar left for Makkah today (Monday) to probe the irregularities in the Hajj arrangements.
He also told the court that the accounts of Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Sarwar Qazalbash and Rao Shakeel Ahmed were being checked. One Muhammad Ali informed the court that there was absolutely mismanagement in Mina on the part of the government. The chief justice asked the FIA DG as to why he was not taking into account the proofs being provided by the affected Hajis. Bilal Yaseen, member of the Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, told the court that the probe team comprised influential people in the government.
The chief justice directed Sardar Latif Khosa, counsel for Hamid Saeed Kazmi, to tell the prime minister that transparency could not be ensured if influential people would conduct the probe. Former Hajj director general Rao Shakeel told the court that he had written a letter to the government seeking more funds for providing better accommodation to the pilgrims, but his request was turned down.
The court adjourned the hearing till January 6, directing the FIA DG to complete the probe into the matter.
‘Ministry will return SR1,000 to each pilgrim’
