Former establishment secretary Ismael Qureshi on Monday asserted his innocence in the multi-billion dollar Hajj corruption case, while also blaming former prime minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani for the ‘illegal’ appointment of Rao Shakeel as director-general of Hajj affairs.
In a statement made to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) investigator Khalid Qureshi, Ismael said that Gilani has simply ignored his advice against Shakeel’s appointment. He also said that Gilani went against his advice when he appointed Zain Sukhaira as Information Technology advisor. Sukhaira is allegedly the front man for Abdul Qadir Gilani, the former premier’s son.
According to local media reports, Ismael made frequent changes to his statement during investigation. Ismael is facing serious charges, such as the concealing of facts and making illegal appointments.
In his statement, Ismael claimed that he had, in writing, that he informed Gilani that Shakeel was facing a reference for a record tempering case with the National Accountability Bureau’s Punjab office and therefore his appointment as D-G Hajj Affairs violated rules and procedure. However, Gilani had ignored his written note and appointed Shakeel in 2010.
However reports claimed that Ismael’s statement does not ring true. In written statements, officials of the Establishment Division informed the FIA that Ismael had concealed essential facts in the summary moved by him for the appointments of Shakeel and Sukhaira. For example. he failed to mention that Shakeel was on the Exit Control List, which is why his appointment, one that would take him to Jeddah, should not have gone through in any case.
Investigator Khalid told reporters that the said Ismael had been summoned to join the case inquiries on April 15, and that his Monday appearance was preliminary in nature.
“I can only confirm that Ismael Qureshi has joined investigations in the Hajj corruption case and, if required, he will be summoned again,” he said.
Khalid is a grade 21 officer, currently serving as the FIA’s deputy director-general. He replaced Hussain Asghar as an investigator on the Hajj corruption case, on the directives of the Supreme Court.
During the last hearing, it was Ismael who had requested the top court to have Asghar replaced.
Without pliant corrupt bureaucracy, all this corruption could not have taken place so blatantly and defiantly.
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