ISLAMABAD – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has unearthed another scandal involving the Interior Ministry where 248 people, including journalists and politicians, were sent for a “free Haj” at the expense of pilgrims’ money deposited with the Religious Affairs Ministry in 2010.
A source in the FIA told Pakistan Today that investigation into the scandal revealed that 248 people were recommended by Interior Ministry officials, upon verbal instructions from Interior Minister Rehman Malik, to be sent for Haj without paying for it.
“The Religious Ministry paid for these people’s travel, accommodation and transport facilities in Saudi Arabia from the account the ministry maintained for the pilgrims,” the source said, adding that around Rs 82,000 was paid for one individual. However, he said the travel expenses from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia of the 248 people were paid by a real estate tycoon, while the rest of the expenses were borne by the ministry.
He said the Religious Affairs Ministry had sent a bill of Rs 20.33 million to the Interior Ministry, funds with which the former had paid for accommodation and transportation of these “special pilgrims” in Saudi Arabia. The source said that as the Interior Ministry was not responding to the Religious Affairs Ministry’s letter asking for payment of Rs 20.33 million, the sum would now be recovered from the beneficiaries.
“The FIA team has identified the Interior Ministry officials who had sanctioned the free Haj and will take action against them,” the source said, adding that these officials were close to Malik and looked after his daily engagements. All 248 beneficiaries were recommended by the Interior Ministry, he said. The idea of a “free Haj” for journalists, politicians and others was conceived by Malik in 2009 when 200 such people were sent to Saudi Arabia.
The source said the FIA had clubbed the matter with the investigation into the Haj scam and was preparing to issue notices to all 248 people for investigation.
