CJP vows not to let anyone hush up Hajj corruption
* Justice Iftikhar expresses dissatisfaction over investigation conducted by FIA
*Says investigation team can’t work independently in presence of FIA DG
By Hasnaat Malik
ISLAMABAD: Expressing dissatisfaction over the investigation conducted by FIA in Hajj corruption case and directing the government to remove FIA Director General Wasim Ahmed from the case, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Tuesday said the Supreme Court would not let anyone hush up the Hajj corruption scandal.
The court appreciated the government for paying 700 Saudi riyals to the affected pilgrims of five maktabs, who were provided inappropriate accommodations during the performance of Hajj.
A seven-member bench of the apex court comprising the CJ, Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Raja Fayyaz, Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday heard the suo moto case of irregularities in Hajj arrangements.
During the course of proceedings, the FIA DG informed the court that he had written to the government to exclude him from the ongoing investigation into the Hajj corruption.
The CJ asked Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq to talk to the government to dissociate the present FIA DG from the case, because in his presence, the team constituted would not work independently.
The CJ also ordered the AGP to communicate the government’s decision in this regard to the Supreme Court registrar within three days and directed FIA Investigation Officer Hussain Asghar to continue to probe the case.
“If Waseem Ahmed remains the FIA DG he will spoil the case and if that happens, we will not spare anyone,” the CJ said, adding that the DG was trying to exonerate everyone because he understood everything, but did not like taking action against the responsible persons.
“Among all corruption cases, this is the biggest scam, therefore we will not let this case be hushed up,” he added.
Justice Ramday said, “The court is fed up with the way the case is being probed... as the FIA DG is protecting criminals.”
He asked how a person who had been appointed the FIA DG on contract after his retirement could work efficiently. The court was provided the recorded statement of Interior Minister Rehman Malik regarding removing the name of Rao Shakeel from the Exit Control List (ECL), wherein it was stated that after being appointing as the Hajj Operation DG, his visit to Saudi Arabia was needed, therefore his name was removed from the ECL.
Sardar Latif Khosa told the court that Shakeel’s name was removed from the ECL on an SMS. Ramday inquired under what law Rao’s name was removed the list.
The FIA DG said that according to the establishment secretary’s statement, Shakeel was appointed in accordance with the law. The CJ then asked him what his own conclusions were.
Asghar told the court that so far, they could not trace the bank accounts of former minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi and Rao Shakeel Ahmed in the country.
Religious Affairs Secretary Shaukat Hayat Durrani informed the court that he had held meetings with six banks for the return of 700 Saudi riyals as compensation money to 26,660 affected pilgrims of five maktabs. He said that letters had been written to the affected pilgrims.
Justice Ghulam Rabbani said that due to the corruption of officials, the government had to arrange funds for paying compensation money. Ramday asked the secretary not to include this money with the 250 Saudi riyals given by the Saudi government for pilgrims.
Shoukat said they had already distributed the 250 Saudi riyals to 18,000 pilgrims.
Former federal minister Azam Swati submitted more evidence and expressed dissatisfaction with the FIA probe. Counsel for Azam Swati, Afnan Kundi, said that although the FIA had record of telephonic conversations between the former minister for religious affairs and Ahmed Faiz, the main accused, the agency did not take action against the culprits. The court adjourned the hearing until January 20.
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