Azam Swati calls PM Gilani “most corrupt”

Former federal minister Azam Khan Swati. Dawn

ISLAMABAD: Former federal minister for science and technology Azam Khan Swati called Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani the most corrupt person in the country’s history.

Speaking to media representatives outside the Supreme Court on Thursday, Swati called both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani corrupt.

Responding to a question regarding the ongoing Federal Investigation Agency’s probe into the Haj scam, Swati said that the court was well aware that the FIA would not unveil those involved in the corruption scandal.

Azam Khan Swati, a former minister associated with the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F (JUI-F), was sacked by Prime Minister Gilani for violating discipline.

Swati and former minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi were both sacked for entering verbal bouts against one another over corruption allegations in the Haj operations.

PM declines to take Swati back into cabinet

SAMAA


ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Tuesday declined to take sacked minister Azam Swati into the federal cabinet, saying he is willing to take other ministers from Jamiat-i-Ulema Islam (JUI-F).

According to sources, PM Gilani refused to take again the removed federal minister into the cabinet, saying the minister in question went against the discipline.

In return, Prime Minister offered Maulana Fazlur Rehman that he is geared up to take various other JUI-F ministers into the federal cabinet.

According to sources, the President House has ramped up their efforts to bring Maulana round thanks to the deadlock between PM and Maulana Fazl; hence, a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and JUI-F chief is expected soon.

Current govt a threat to Shariat, says Fazlur Rehman

Dawn

ISLAMABAD: Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), on Thursday said the JUI-F did not pose a threat to the PPP-led coalition government.

However, the current government poses a threat to Shariat in Pakistan, he said.

Speaking at the National Assembly session here, Fazlur Rehman said the government was also under international pressure over the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) issue.

He further criticised the sacking of former JUI-F minister Azam Khan Swati and said Swati “was not a member of the PPP that he could be dismissed without consulting the party”.