ISLAMABAD – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team probing the Haj scam has recorded Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s statement regarding the removal of former Haj director general (DG) Rao Shakeel’s name from the exit-control list (ECL).
FIA DG Waseem Ahmad said the FIA team had recorded Malik’s statement of Rehman Malik during which the minister explained his position on the removal of Shakeel’s name from the ECL.
“Rehman Malik directed the interior secretary to remove Shakeel’s name from the ECL,” he said.
Establishment Secretary Khushnood Lashari had earlier told the Supreme Court that Shakeel’s name was on the ECL, but the Interior Ministry removed his name on Malik’s directions.
Ahmad said the FIA team also recorded the statement of Zain Iftikhar Sukhera, a close friend of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s son Abdul Qadir Gilani, but he denied the allegations leveled against him.
He said that FIA will submit its report on the scam and Malik’s statement in the Supreme Court today (Tuesday).
A source said former Haj DG had paid Rs 30 million to Sukhera for his appointment as the Haj DG.
