Taking up the bail application of former Religious Affairs joint secretary Aftabul Islam, who was under arrest for his alleged involvement in the Haj corruption case, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday admitted the petition for his bail and issued notices to the federal government and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The FIA on December 9, 2010 arrested Raja for his alleged involvement in the Haj corruption case. He was a co-accused with former Haj director general Rao Shakeel Ahmed, who in 2010 had allegedly hired 87 buildings in Makkah for pilgrims at exorbitant rates and also made an advance rent payment for these building up to 50 percent against the previous practice of 15 percent for personal gains.
A single member bench comprising Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi was hearing the case in which the counsel for Raja, Ahmed Khan Gondal contended that despite the fact that his client was behind bars since last one year, the FIA had neither completed the inquiry nor had it submitted the complete challan, adding that the delay was deliberate because the authorities wanted to keep his client behind bars for an indefinite period. He contended that there was no likelihood of the trial to be concluded in the near future and the circumstances attracted the provisions of subsection (1) of Section 497 of CrPc under which his client would be entitled to bail, adding that his client’s name was already on the exit-control list and his passport was also with the FIA. The hearing was adjourned until a date is fixed by the Registrar’s Office.
