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			<title>Justice seen to be done</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1116342/justice-seen-done</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1116342/justice-seen-done#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jun 16 17:41:38 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Conviction of a former religious affairs minister may in retrospect be seen as a watershed in fight against corruption]]>
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				<![CDATA[The conviction of Hamid Saeed Kazmi, a former religious affairs minister, may in retrospect be seen as a watershed in the fight against corruption in Pakistan. Mr Kazmi and his two co-accused were convicted on June 3, with the former minister sentenced to 16 years seemingly to his considerable surprise; his co-accused Raja Aftabul Islam was awarded a similar sentence and former Hajj director general Rao Shakeel received 40 years. The three were also given fines commensurate with the sums they have defrauded the exchequer of, which if not paid will be sequestrated from their estates. The convicts are now in Adiyala jail where they are doubtless preparing their appeals, a process unlikely to be swift.

The three men are nothing more than common thieves who conspired together to loot vast sums of money. When they were caught by the Federal Investigation Agency, the previous PPP government did all it could to derail the investigation against them, posting the chief investigator to Gilgit-Baltistan to frustrate the inquiry. That move was negated by the chief justice of the day who ordered his immediate return. That they are behind bars now is an indication that the state is not always impotent or incompetent when it comes to corruption, its identification, and the punishment of those caught in thievery. To be sure, there are times when cases of corruption are not pursued with due diligence, where rich and powerful people are protected from on high and get away with their crimes, but not all cases are whitewashed, not all criminals walk free — though too many do. These men were not minnows but very big fish indeed, who might have expected impunity but it was not to be. There can be no accusations of their conviction being politically motivated, point-scoring by the incumbent government, as they were caught ‘bang to rights’ as the vernacular saying goes. The investigation anyway originated under the previous dispensation when complaints emerged about the mismanagement of the 2009 Hajj. The current dispensation finished the job. We express our satisfaction at this salutary outcome, and wish for more of the same far into the future.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5th, 2016.

Like Opinion &amp; Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.]]>
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			<title>Road to Makkah: The cost of visiting the house of God</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1056005/road-to-makkah-the-cost-of-visiting-the-house-of-god</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/1056005/road-to-makkah-the-cost-of-visiting-the-house-of-god#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 28 Feb 16 15:50:40 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[ferya..ilyas]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Difference in services provided by govt and private schemes spark debate over commercialization of Hajj]]>
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				<![CDATA[Hajj urges equality, but the modern experience of the greater pilgrimage relies heavily on the depth of one's pockets. For years, the government handled management of Hajj for Pakistanis, but in 2005 the private sector was introduced after authorities in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia both agreed there was a need for choice in facilities provided to pilgrims.

“The idea was to increase options for pilgrims,” says Hajj Organisers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) Chairperson Muhammad Nadeem Sharif. The private scheme is managed by tour operators registered with the ministry and are identified as Hajj Group Organisers (HGOs). Currently, around 750 HGOs are registered with the government while many more are likely to be added this year.

Private packages and their pitfalls 

Initially, private tour operators were given only 30,000 to 60,000 pilgrims from the total number allowed to perform Hajj in a year, says Sharif. But the number was later equally divided between the government and private sector. “I believe that gradually the entire management of the holy journey will be privatised,” states Sharif.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] A pilgrim reads from a copy of the Quran as he prays on top of Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Makkah, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. PHOTO: AFP[/caption]

Details of all authorised HGOs are available on the ministry’s website and with Haji camps across the country, says Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA) Joint Secretary Noor Zaman. However, he feels not many people use the website for finding registered HGOs and, instead, rely on friends and family for recommendation. “HGOs run their business mostly through word of mouth,” says Zaman.

Plea against alleged anti-Shia bias

The distribution of pilgrims among registered HGOs is done through a ‘matrix of categorisation’ which considers performance indicators such as volume of business managed since the introduction of the private Hajj scheme and number of Hajj operations undertaken by each HGO. “As per the rules, the maximum number of pilgrims that can be allocated to one HGO is 600,” informs Sharif. But each year new HGOs enter the market and some are blacklisted so the number of pilgrims is reallocated between them, adds the HOAP chief.

To increase competition and improve service, the government has registered around 2,000 new tour companies this year. “Their performance and abilities have been assessed and the ministry will assign them pilgrims based on their scores,” MORA’s Zaman explains. Skeptical of the process, Sharif says the government didn’t set a passing score and everyone who applied was registered.

Saudi says Iranian pilgrims welcome despite rift

The modus operandi of all these registered HGOs is the same; pilgrims approach an HGO and pick out a Hajj package for themselves. In some instances, however, HGOs use middlemen to attract customers, which is forbidden in the service agreement signed between the government and HGOs. According to Zaman, it is common practice to take help from agents and share profits with them. “This is done informally but is prevalent,” says Zaman, adding that authorised HGOs are legally bound to deal with pilgrims directly.

Sharif, however, has a different opinion on this. “When the government allows multiple HGOs to collaborate in arranging a Hajj tour, what’s wrong in using and paying subagents to facilitate pilgrims?” he asks. He, however, agrees that all dealings should be undertaken at an HGO’s office in person. “Both parties should know what they are agreeing to and there should be no confusion,” he stresses.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] A pilgrim prays at the Mount of Mercy (Jabal al-Rahma) in the plain of Arafat, southeast of the holy city of Makkah, on November 21, 2009. PHOTO: AFP[/caption]

The private Hajj scheme has been criticised on several occasions for commericalising the holy pilgrimage, but tour operators insist the exorbitant price tag is backed by a valid reason. HOAP’s Sharif says private Hajj packages range between Rs0.35 million and Rs1.5 million, depending on the pilgrim’s demands. “Less than 2% of total pilgrims opting for the private scheme purchase high-end packages, 60% take less-expensive packages and the rest go for mid-range options,” he says.

Explaining why even the cheapest private package is higher than what the government offers, Sharif says the ministry has the state machinery at its disposal which excludes the cost of staff salaries, income tax and other utilities from their packages. “All in all, there’s at least a difference of Rs80,000 on the costs incurred by private operators in comparison to the government,” he claims. Therefore, it is only understandable why private packages are more expensive, he adds.

Muslim man jailed for selling fake Hajj trips in UK

To rein in the capitalist drive, Zaman says the government is considering putting a cap on the prices of Hajj packages this year. “The current system doesn’t have a limit on how expensive a package can be but now there is a view that there should be a ceiling,” Zaman says, adding that for this purpose the government has asked all HGOs to share their suggestions.

Giving details of the extent to which government and private schemes vary, the HOAP chief says that while the government accommodates pilgrims away from Masjid al-Haram, private tour operators book hotels close to the holy mosque. “Our pilgrims have tents in the inner part of Mina while government pilgrims stay on the periphery of the neighbourhood. We offer a buffet to our customers against the government’s one dish per meal served in polythene bags. For a Rs1.5 million package, we book peak season flights and five-star hotels,” Sharif lists. “Sometimes we are asked to reserve a tent which can accommodate eight people for only two pilgrims. Who will pay for the loss incurred? The customer, not me,” he adds.

The MORA official understands the dynamics of the private scheme and agrees with Sharif. “Tour organisers charge for all the facilities they provide to pilgrims on their demand. Everyone prefers to stay closer to the Haram and the cost increases by a big margin if the hotel is located in the vicinity. If you ask me, I would also choose to pay more and be closer to the Kaaba,” admits Zaman.

Checks and balances

To make sure pilgrims complete their holy journey in peace, Zaman says the government sends a monitoring team to Saudi Arabia during Hajj to interview pilgrims about each HGO’s performance and help them if needed. The Hajjis, Zaman says, are given helpline numbers where they can register complaints. “If a pilgrim tells us they were not placed in a hotel they were promised and given proper food or faced transportation-related problems, the government’s monitoring team immediately meets with the head of the HGO and seeks relief for the pilgrim,” he says.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] Pakistani hajj pilgrims queue to check-in at Karachi airport for the first hajj flight to Saudi Arabia on late August 15, 2015. PHOTO: AFP[/caption]

If the HGO fails to satisfy the pilgrim, a complaint is registered against it, explains Zaman. “Once the Hajj season is over, the complaint is reviewed by the ministry and a hearing is held. If the HGO doesn’t give a satisfactory explanation, it is either fined, banned for a certain period or has its quota reduced,” he states. But HOAP’s Sharif is critical of the government’s redress scheme and claims he knows people who had their entire Hajj package reimbursed for something as minor as one missed meal.

One rule for all 

Censuring the government for its emphasis on ‘ghareeb ka Hajj’, the HOAP chairperson challenges the concept saying Islam doesn’t ask less-privileged people to take on this demanding journey. “I understand everyone wishes to see the house of God but that same God has said come only if you can. We believe Allah is all-knowledgeable and He has given us this relaxation, then why do people burden themselves?” Sharif asks.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] PHOTO: AFP[/caption]

However, even for those who can afford to, there’s a five-year rule which prohibits a person from performing Hajj twice during this time except for those who need to go as a ‘Mehram’ or perform ‘Hajj-e-Badal’. Sharif says tour operators check passports to make sure the person has not performed Hajj in last five years. However, like most rules, this too can be dodged by either making a new passport or stating one is performing Hajj for someone else. But Sharif wonders why anyone would do that.

Pilgrim distribution: 

Every Muslim country has a quota of one pilgrim per 1,000 people. Keeping in mind the 1998 census, according to which Pakistan’s population is around 180 million, the number of pilgrims who can go for Hajj every year is roughly 180,000. However, due to the ongoing expansion work in the holy cities, the quota was reduced by 20% in the last three years.

This year, the government of Saudi Arabia may restore the original quota for all Muslim countries.

The total number of pilgrims from Pakistan is distributed between the government and private schemes in a 50:50 ratio. The 50% of pilgrims who fall under the care of the private sector are distributed among authorised tour operators (Hajj Group Organisers) based on performance, capacity and the number of pilgrims they have entertained in the past. These HGOs can offer Hajj packages to only the number of pilgrims they have been assigned and no more.

Things to keep in mind when booking for Hajj

• Interested pilgrims must look for registered Hajj Group Organisers on the ministry website or visit Haji camps for information. Visit mora.gov.pk and click on the ‘Hajj Information’ tab on top. Since the website isn’t user-friendly and requires a lot of scrolling, use Ctrl+F to find what you are looking for or try searching keywords with the website’s URL on Google.

•Pilgrims should also ask family and friends, who have previously performed Hajj, for recommendation.

•Once you have decided on an HGO, ask for their enrollment number, certificate and Munazzam card (a kind of license issued to Hajj agents by Saudi authorities) and crosscheck the information with the data on the ministry’s website.

•Avoid using middlemen if possible and have meetings at the Hajj Group Organisers’ office rather than at an unauthorised place.

•Always ask for a written agreement which mentions all the facilities you are promised and sign it.

•Don’t use cash for payment. Use cheques as it records the transaction.

An abridged version of this article was published in The Express Tribune on February 29, 2016.]]>
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			<title>Hajj corruption case: SC rejects application seeking immunity for Gilani</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/572423/hajj-corruption-case-sc-rejects-application-seeking-immunity-for-gilani</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/572423/hajj-corruption-case-sc-rejects-application-seeking-immunity-for-gilani#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jul 13 08:58:55 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Yousaf Raza Gilani was accused of 'illegally' appointing Rao Shakeel as D-G Hajj affairs.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court rejected an application seeking immunity for former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the Hajj corruption case on Thursday, reported Express News.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that the Religious Affairs ministry should refrain from looting people, and adjourned the hearing till July 23.

Gilani was accused by former establishment secretary Ismael Qureshi of “illegally” appointing Rao Shakeel as director-general of Hajj affairs. Ismael had claimed that Gilani ignored his advice against Shakeel’s appointment and also appointed Zain Sukhaira as Information Technology advisor.

The Supreme Court later took notice of both appointments, which were subsequently reversed, but directed Gilani to submit his response over his exemption from investigation into the case. The law secretary was also ordered to explain why the investigation officer was asked to drop inquiry against Gilani.

Background

Former Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Rao Shakeel and former additional secretary to ministry of religious affairs Raja Aftabul Islam were accused of indulging in widespread corruption during the course of renting residential buildings for Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia at exorbitant rates and inflicting a loss of a billion rupees to the national exchequer.

Most of the buildings rented by the Hajj administrators were five kilometres away from the Haram Sharif, while according to law the accommodation for Hajjis should not be more than two kilometres away.]]>
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			<title>Hajj corruption case: Gilani made appointments against my advice, says Qureshi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/538104/hajj-corruption-case-gilani-made-appointments-against-my-advice-says-qureshi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/538104/hajj-corruption-case-gilani-made-appointments-against-my-advice-says-qureshi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 20 Apr 13 05:55:48 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[arif.rana]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Former secretary establishment faces serious charges.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Former Establishment secretary, Ismael Qureshi, asserted his innocence on Monday 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. Similarly, he also says 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.

Sources also told the Express Investigation Cell (EIC) that 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, informed Gilani that Shakeel was facing a reference for a record tempering case with the National Accountability Bureau’s Punjab office. For this reason, his appointment as D-G Hajj Affairs was not in line with appropriate rules and procedure. However, he said that Gilani had ignored his written note on the summary and appointed Shakeel in 2010.

Moreover, he held Gilani responsible for appointing Sukhaira as the IT ministry’s advisor despite his not having the required qualifications.

And yet, according to sources, the facts do not seem to match Ismael’s claims.

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.

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.

He also did not mention that Shakeel was facing trial for record tampering, and that the case against him was strong.

The Supreme Court later took notice of both appointments, which were subsequently reversed.  Speaking to the EIC, investigator Khalid 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.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2013. ]]>
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			<title>Hajj corruption case: IHC rejects bail plea of Rao Shakeel</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/517668/hajj-corruption-case-ihc-rejects-bail-plea-of-rao-shakeel</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/517668/hajj-corruption-case-ihc-rejects-bail-plea-of-rao-shakeel#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 08 Mar 13 07:52:15 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[FIA objects to the request for bail, says former DG Hajj had misused his powers.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Islamabad High Court rejected bail plea of former DG Hajj Rao Shakeel on Friday in the 2010 Hajj corruption case, Express News reported.

Justice Muhammad Anwar Khan Kasi heard the bail request today.

During the proceeding, Shakeel’s counsel argued that his client has been detained for last two years and that the prosecution is responsible for the delay in the case not his client.

He further said that main accused Hamid Saeed Kazmi - former federal minister for religious affairs - was also released on bail.

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) lawyer Chaudhry Zulfiqar objected to the request, saying that Shakeel had misused his powers.

Earlier, the agency had also asked the court to cancel the bail of Kazmi for influencing witnesses in the case.

Kazmi, Shakeel and former additional secretary to ministry of religious affairs Raja Aftabul Islam were accused of indulging in widespread corruption during the course of renting residential buildings for Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and inflicting a loss of a billion rupees to the national exchequer. Most of the buildings rented by the Hajj administrators were five kilometres away from the Haram Sharif, while according to law the accommodation for Hajjis should not be more than two kilometres away.]]>
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			<title>Hajj scam case: SC seeks report from FIA on Abdul Qadir’s degree</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/492821/hajj-scam-case-sc-seeks-report-from-fia-on-abdul-qadir%e2%80%99s-degree</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/492821/hajj-scam-case-sc-seeks-report-from-fia-on-abdul-qadir%e2%80%99s-degree#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 12 Jan 13 06:23:02 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[peer.muhammad]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[SC asks Hussain Asghar to confine himself only to  investigations of Hajj scam case.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court on Friday sought a report from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Abdul Qadir Gilani’s complaint that the agency is crossing its limits by investigating the authenticity of his degree.


A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the Hajj scam case with special reference to Abdul Qadir’s application.

On Saturday, the son of the former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, had requested the apex court, to disassociate FIA director Hussain Asghar from the Hajj scam case, claiming that the officer was partial. Abdul Qadir also sought a restraining order against Asghar, and wanted the probe into his bachelor of arts degree to be dropped.

Qadir Gilani’s counsel, Abdul Hafiz Pirzada, also told the court that FIA was harassing his client by pursuing an issue that was beyond the agency’s mandate.

The Supreme Court asked Hussain Asghar to confine himself only to the investigations of the Hajj scam case, rather than straying into other matters.

“You should focus on the investigations of the Hajj scam case. If there is any issue with Qadir Gilani’s degree, then some other department will look into it,” the chief justice said.

Asghar informed the court that the documents from the customs department have confirmed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s parliamentarian Imran Ahmed Shah’s allegations, that a car worth Rs20 million, was given to Abdul Qadir by ex-director general Hajj operation Rao Shakeel.

Pirzada argued that Asghar is spoiling the case, as the car was imported in 2009, while the apex court looked into the case in 2010.

During the proceedings, the chief justice also issued notices to Deputy Attorney General Dil Mohammad Alizai and FIA to obtain more details on the Hajj scandal and adjourned the case till January 21.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2013.

&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Officer’s vengeance?: NA privilege panel finds Hajj investigator biased</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/482889/officer%e2%80%99s-vengeance-na-privilege-panel-finds-hajj-investigator-biased</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/482889/officer%e2%80%99s-vengeance-na-privilege-panel-finds-hajj-investigator-biased#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 22 Dec 12 05:27:57 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[umer.nangiana]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Its report says Hussain Asghar unjustly implicated Qadir Gilani in Hajj scam.]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A National Assembly committee declared Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officer Hussain Asghar guilty of baselessly implicating MNA Abdul Qadir Gilani in the Hajj scam case. 


“Asghar, the investigation officer, maliciously attempted to implicate Syed Abdul Qadir Gilani in the Hajj scam case to harass him and lower his esteem,” said the National Assembly Privilege Committee report submitted by its chairman Abdul Ghafoor Chaudhry.

The report recommended to the house that relevant authorities should be directed to take disciplinary action against Asghar, the FIA Director probing the Hajj scam case on Supreme Court orders, in accordance with law.

The committee was constituted on the direction of NA panel’s chief after Gilani complained that he was being harassed by the FIA officer who was issuing him summons to face the Hajj scam inquiry.

The son of former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani, Qadir has accused that Asghar was being vindictive and biased against him as the issue he was taking up had ‘already been settled’.



“The committee found the FIA officer biased in his investigations against Qadir Gilani because his father, the former premier, had suspended the officer, and transferred him during his tenure. The entire investigation is the outcome of rancour and violates the law, thus a fair investigation is not expected,” said the report.

The report further said that the Interior Ministry had revealed that Asghar had not informed or consulted the ministry before issuing notices to Qadir Gilani. Furthermore, the director general of FIA told the committee that he was also not taken on board by Asghar for investigations.

Question hour

Work on the Pakistani segment of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline is likely to begin in another two months while the flow of gas will start by the end of December 2014, the Adviser to Prime Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Dr Asim Hussain informed the house.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira, told the house that Pakistan was committed to completing the project. “We signed the project with Iran despite all the pressure and did not bow down before it,” said Kaira.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22nd, 2012.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/482889-abdulqadirgil_1735799875/482889-abdulqadirgil_1735799875.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>Appointment of Hajj DG: Gilani denies drawing financial benefit</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/468471/appointment-of-hajj-dg-gilani-denies-drawing-financial-benefit</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/468471/appointment-of-hajj-dg-gilani-denies-drawing-financial-benefit#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 12 05:17:54 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Balochistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=468471</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Former PM calls FIA notices to him ‘in violation of the constitution’.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Submitting a written reply to notices issued to him by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) team probing the Hajj scam, former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani contended that the notices were in violation of the constitution.


Gilani submitted the reply to FIA’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Director Hussain Asghar on Sunday in response to the FIA’s notice, issued to him over the appointment of former director general Hajj Rao Shakil, alleging the former prime minister for receiving monetary benefits against the appointment.



The reply stated that any allegations of monetary benefits or impropriety in isolation against him “are an absolute impossibility”.

“The prime minister is the final authority in making hundreds of such appointments,” said the former premier in his reply. However, he said Shakil’s appointment was made on the summary received from the relevant ministry which contained input from several other departments.

He further said that any allegation of such kind should be based on evidence. “In absence of evidence, it would be highly irrelevant in law to furnish any reply to allegation in question.”

The former prime minister also expressed distrust over the head of FIA’s investigating team, Hussain Asghar’s impartiality in the case.

Asghar, reappointed as investigation officer in Hajj Scam case on the directions of Supreme Court recently, issued notice to Gilani, his son MNA Qadir Gilani and one of his friends and then principal secretary to former premier Gilani, Nargis Sethi.

The FIA director was earlier transferred as Inspector General of Police Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) after his investigations led him to prime minister’s secretariat in 2010. On reappointment, he issued fresh notices to the parties concerned.

Sethi in her reply told the investigation officer that she acted upon the then prime minister’s directions in appointing Rao Shakil as DG Hajj.

NA Privilege Committee

Meanwhile, Director General FIA Anwar Virk on Monday informed the Privilege committee of National Assembly that he was not cognizant on the issue of notices issued to Qadir Gilani as he recently took charge, sources said.

He sought time from the committee to collect relevant information on the alleged breach of privilege of MNA Qadir Gilani. Qadir last week alleged that the FIA was sending him notices on the matter that had already been clarified.

“The FIA was harassing an MNA which breached the privilege of the house,” Qadir said.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Hajj corruption case: FIA summons Yousaf Raza Gilani, son</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/465520/hajj-corruption-case-fia-summons-yousaf-raza-gilani-son</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/465520/hajj-corruption-case-fia-summons-yousaf-raza-gilani-son#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 14 Nov 12 08:42:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=465520</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[According to sources, the former PM will be questioned regarding Sukhera’s contract and his appointment.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) summoned former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, his son Abdul Qadir Gilani and Zain Sukhera on November 16 in the Hajj corruption case, reported Express News on Wednesday.

According to sources, Gilani will be questioned regarding Sukhera’s contract and his appointment, while his son will be asked how he bought a car worth Rs10 million.

FIA’s inquiry officer Hussain Asghar had submitted a progress report in the Supreme Court on Tuesday and informed the court that FIA is probing the appointment of Director General (DG) Hajj Shakeel Rao, who is also one of the accused in the scandal.

Earlier, FIA investigators had issued summons for Abdul Qadir Gilani, his friend Zain Sukhera and others to get their statements recorded in relation to the corruption case but had failed to appear before the court.

Qadir Gilani had written a letter to FIA investigators requesting for more time so he could come to Islamabad from Multan.

The investigators want a clearer picture after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA from Sahiwal, Pirzada Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, retracted his statement, accusing Qadir Gilani of obtaining bribes from a Hajj official.]]>
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			<title>Hajj corruption case: SC issues notice to former secretary establishment</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/465008/hajj-corruption-case-sc-issues-notice-to-former-secretary-establishment</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/465008/hajj-corruption-case-sc-issues-notice-to-former-secretary-establishment#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 13 Nov 12 09:57:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=465008</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[FIA officer Asghar says governor Punjab acting as impediment to investigations into Zain Sukhera's degree.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court, while hearing the Hajj corruption case, issued a notice to former secretary establishment Ismail Qureshi and adjourned the hearing till November 19, Express News reported on Tuesday.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was heading the three-member bench hearing the case.

Federal Investigation Authority’s (FIA) inquiry officer Hussain Asghar presented the progress report on the case.

He said that investigations were being conducted on Rao Shakeel’s appointment, adding that he was appointed by Ismail Qureshi, the then secretary establishment. Asghar also said that the court had stopped Qureshi’s arrest.

On investigations pertaining to the degree of Zain Sukhera, friend of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son, Asghar said that the Governor Punjab as chancellor was being an obstacle.

Issuing a notice to Qureshi, the court directed him to give an explanation as the stay order against his arrest had been ended.

The hearing was adjourned till November 19.

Earlier, FIA investigators had issued summons for Abdul Qadir Gilani, his friend Zain Sukhera and others to get their statements recorded in relation to the corruption case but had failed to appear before the court.

Qadir Gilani had written a letter to FIA investigators requesting for more time so he could come to Islamabad from Multan.

The investigators want a clearer picture after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA from Sahiwal, Pirzada Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, retracted his statement, accusing Qadir Gilani of obtaining bribes from a Hajj official.]]>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Hajj corruption case: Abdul Qadir Gilani refuses to appear before FIA</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/461612/hajj-corruption-case-abdul-qadir-gilani-refuses-to-appear-before-fia</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/461612/hajj-corruption-case-abdul-qadir-gilani-refuses-to-appear-before-fia#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 06 Nov 12 10:12:36 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=461612</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Qadir Gilani writes letter to FIA, seeks more time to travel from Multan to Islamabad.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Abdul Qadir Gilani, son of former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, refused to appear before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the Hajj corruption case, Express News reported on Tuesday.

FIA investigators on Monday had issued summons for Qadir Gilani, his friend Zain Sukhera and others to get their statements recorded in relation to the corruption case.

But Qadir Gilani wrote a letter to FIA investigators requesting for more time so he can come to Islamabad from Multan.

According to an FIA official, statements of Qadir Gilani and Sukhera will be reviewed again in the Hajj corruption case to close investigations.

The investigators want a clearer picture after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA from Sahiwal, Pirzada Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, retraced his statement accusing Qadir Gilani of obtaining bribes from a Hajj official.]]>
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			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/461612-abdulqadirgil_1735799875/461612-abdulqadirgil_1735799875.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>Principal accused in Hajj scam hiding in Saudi Arabia: Investigation officer</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/456602/principal-accused-in-hajj-scam-hiding-in-saudi-arabia-investigation-officer</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/456602/principal-accused-in-hajj-scam-hiding-in-saudi-arabia-investigation-officer#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 25 Oct 12 05:15:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=456602</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Hussain Asghar tells court PM Secretariat is not handing over record concerning the accused to FIA.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) investigation officer into the Hajj scam told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the Prime Minister’s Secretariat was not cooperating with the FIA in handing over the required records related to the main accused of the scam.


Hussain Asghar, who was a senior FIA director at the time he started the inquiry into the scandal, was transferred by the government in April 2011 and appointed as the inspector-general of Giligit-Baltistan. But in June 2012, Asghar was transferred back to the FIA to rejoin the probe into the Hajj scandal on the government’s orders.

In his first appearance in the court after a gap of two years, Asghar told the court that Faiz Ahmad, the principal accused in the case, who purchased buildings at exorbitant rates in Makkah for pilgrims with the connivance of Saudi nationals, took refuge in Saudi Arabia. But the kingdom was not ready to extradite him to Pakistan, despite repeated requests by the FIA. “However, we have issued international arrest warrants for Faiz Ahmad and he could be arrested at any international airport when he leaves Saudi Arabia,” the officer said.

Asghar informed the two-judge bench of the apex court, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, that he had sent three reminders to the principal secretary to the prime minister to hand over the records of the accused, but to no avail. Asghar also said that the Establishment Division and the religious affairs ministry were not cooperating in the investigation either.

The bench referred to the Constitution and said that if someone tried to obstruct the investigation there would be consequences to face. It directed the secretaries to the prime minister, establishment and religious affairs ministry to cooperate with Asghar.

The investigation officer informed the apex court that since the focus of the inquiry was to examine the role of Zain Sukhera as a consultant in the ministry of information technology and Rao Shakil as the Director General of Hajj, access to the relevant records of the secretariat was necessary.

He said that the FIA was informed by the controller of examinations of Bahauddin Zakria University that Sukhera obtained a fake degree.

CJ Chaudhry observed that the court would not spare those who looted millions of rupees from Hajj pilgrims.

The court later adjourned the case till the second week of November.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Hajj quota case: Contempt proceedings dropped against Khurshid Shah</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/447243/hajj-quota-case-contempt-proceedings-dropped-against-khurshid-shah</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/447243/hajj-quota-case-contempt-proceedings-dropped-against-khurshid-shah#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 05 Oct 12 04:44:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=447243</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Hajj director informs LHC quota awarded to private tour operators.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Lahore High Court has dropped contempt of court proceedings against Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah and also discharged a contempt notice issued to him, after being informed that the Hajj quota had been allotted.


Appearing before LHC Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial in a contempt of court hearing, Hajj director Malik Saeed and the deputy attorney general (DAG) submitted that in compliance of the court orders, the quota of pilgrims was allotted to four Hajj group organisers (HGO).

Presenting a detailed report before the court, Saeed said that a quota of 89,605 pilgrims has been provided to the private tour operators.

Details revealed that a quota of 87,960 pilgrims was awarded to 721 eligible HGOs, while a quota of 1,150 pilgrims was allotted to armed forces.

Meanwhile, 50 pilgrims were allotted to a company on the directions of the Balochistan High Court and 100 to two companies in compliance of a Supreme Court order. Two tour operators were allotted 150 pilgrims and the ministry was left with the quota of 190 pilgrims, the report added.

The Hajj director also presented a merit list of 10 private tour operators. The court had earlier directed the ministry to present a list of four HGOs that fulfilled the merit requirements.

Subsequently, the DAG assured the court that all formalities, including issuance of visas and Hajj forms, would be completed within a day.

The petitioners’ counsel, Azhar Siddique, told the court that Hafiz Sher Ali, who had been serving as a joint secretary at the ministry, was transferred from his position for cooperating with the court.

Siddique said a transfer for cooperating with the court was equivalent to committing contempt and requested the court to initiate proceedings against those behind Ali’s transfer.

Chief Justice Bandial remarked that the court would look into the matter and determine whether or not the joint secretary’s transfer was mala fide.

The court adjourned the hearing till October 8 and directed the ministry to submit a complete compliance report.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2012.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/447243-Hajjquotacasephotofile-1349379960/447243-Hajjquotacasephotofile-1349379960.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>Hajj 2012: Minister given 24 hours to allot Hajj quota</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/446129/hajj-2012-minister-given-24-hours-to-allot-hajj-quota</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/446129/hajj-2012-minister-given-24-hours-to-allot-hajj-quota#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Oct 12 04:43:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=446129</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[LHC directs Khurshid Shah to issue 190 seats to four eligible Hajj tour operators.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Issuing a stern warning in case of inaction, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday ordered Minister for Religious Affairs Khurshid Shah to allot quota of the remaining 190 out of the 540 pilgrims to four eligible Hajj tour operators within 24 hours.


LHC Chief Justice (CJ) Umar Ata Bandial issued the order as the religious affairs minister, along with other Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leaders, appeared before the court on a contempt of court notice issued to him for not allotting the remaining quota as per court directives and using delaying tactics to lapse the deadline.

Federal Ministers Qamar Zaman Kaira, Imtiaz Safdar Warraich and MNA Sardar Ghazanfar had accompanied Shah to the court during Tuesday’s proceedings. Earlier, the CJ had summoned Shah in person for flouting court orders.

When the LHC chief justice asked Shah why he failed to allot the remaining Hajj quota to new tour operators, Shah replied that the religious affairs ministry wanted to challenge the LHC order before the Supreme Court. The LHC CJ told Shah that the time to challenge LHC’s orders had already lapsed and now the ministry cannot challenge their ruling.

Shah was told that when he took over the portfolio of the ministry, he was committed to giving the quota purely based on merit. In response, the minister said being a politician he was under immense pressure as everyone wanted to receive the quota — insisting that the quota had been allotted as per the orders of the Balochistan High Court, Sindh High Court and the Supreme Court.

The LHC bench stated that incompetent officials of the ministry were not ensuring merit-based allotment. Meanwhile, petitioners’ counsel Advocate Muhammad Azhar Siddique alleged that Shah was not willing to allot the quota because of his “mala fide intentions”.

After hearing the arguments, the CJ warned Shah: “The courts want to get their decisions implemented. If its decisions are not implemented, law will take its own course.”

Consequently, Shah told the bench that the remaining quota of 190 would be allotted to 19 operators. But CJ Bandial replied that they should allot the quota to only four operator companies who have deposited Rs500,000 as security and have enough experience of dealing with the matter.

Despite repeated requests of extension in the deadline, the CJ ordered the ministry to ensure that the remaining quota is issued within 24 hours and asked for a detailed report.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2012.]]>
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			<image>
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			<title>Hajj operations: LHC orders probe into distribution of quotas</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/445527/hajj-operations-lhc-orders-probe-into-distribution-of-quotas</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/445527/hajj-operations-lhc-orders-probe-into-distribution-of-quotas#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Oct 12 05:12:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=445527</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[CCP to inquire into ‘illegal cartelisation’ of private Hajj tour operations.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Monday ordered the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) to hold an inquiry into “illegal cartelisation” of private Hajj tour operations which discourages new entrants.


Hearing a contempt of court petition against the religious affairs minister, Justice Bandial said an inquiry was required to ascertain the level of competition allowed amongst tour operators.

The petition, moved by New Hajj Group Organisers, claimed that existing tour operators, in connivance with the religious affairs ministry, had established a cartel through unjust distribution of quotas.

Representing the petitioners, Advocate Azhar Siddique submitted that the Hajj Policy 2012 had been sent to the federal government for approval and a plan had been hatched to award Hajj quotas to blue-eyed tour operators.

The counsel for the petitioners argued that, last year the ministry and 726 tour operators had pleaded that Hajj pilgrims had already deposited money and their names had been communicated to Saudi authorities.

The court adjourned the case till November 12.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2nd, 2012.]]>
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			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/445527-Hajj-1349153921/445527-Hajj-1349153921.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Hajj scam: FIA head asked to hand over probe to Asghar</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/443173/hajj-scam-fia-head-asked-to-hand-over-probe-to-asghar</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/443173/hajj-scam-fia-head-asked-to-hand-over-probe-to-asghar#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 27 Sep 12 05:07:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=443173</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Asghar had been investigating the Hajj corruption case.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court ordered the director-general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday to hand over the charge of the Hajj scam investigation to former Gilgit-Baltistan police chief Hussain Asghar.


Asghar, who was a former FIA director, had been investigating the Hajj corruption case before he was abruptly appointed as the G-B Inspector General of Police (IGP).

Joint Secretary of the Establishment Division Malik Sher Afzal told a three-judge bench of the apex court on Wednesday that Asghar had been transferred back to Islamabad and was facing departmental inquiry for non-compliance with the apex court’s order.

The court earlier ordered for the suspension of Ashgar, following which, the establishment division suspended him for defying the court’s orders to report back to the FIA.

The court adjourned the hearing till September 28, 2012.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/443173-HussainAsgharPHOTOFILE-1348691480/443173-HussainAsgharPHOTOFILE-1348691480.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>Refuting allegations outright, Hamid Saeed Kazmi asks media to help clear his name</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/430350/refuting-allegations-outright-hamid-saeed-kazmi-asks-media-to-help-clear-his-name</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/430350/refuting-allegations-outright-hamid-saeed-kazmi-asks-media-to-help-clear-his-name#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 02 Sep 12 22:41:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sindh]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=430350</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Former minister says there was no proof produced against him in court.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[After being released on bail a week ago, the former religious affairs minister, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, who was allegedly involved in the Hajj corruption scam, came before the media on Sunday to restore his image.

Although Kazmi has yet to be absolved from his indictment in the corruption case, he called a press conference at Qasr-e-Naz, a government lodge which is meant for federal officials.

“The picture painted [of Kazmi’s involvement] by the media without a shred of proof was abhorrent, and so now call upon them to help me prove my innocence,” said the former minister. He was flanked by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Chairperson Mufti Muneebur-Rehman, Nizam-e-Mustafa Chief Haji Hanif Tayyab and a number of his devotees who were chanting slogans of his innocence.

“To be vindicated in the eyes of the public is more important than to get acquittal from the court of justice,” said Kazmi, while adding that no proof had been produced against him to substantiate the allegations. According to him, the Federal Investigation Agency failed in finding any evidence or witnesses against him.  “For me, it is imperative to reach out to the public in order to save the good name of my father as I’m not an industrialist or a qualified politician.”

Corruption scandals

Kazmi, along with two others, was accused of corruption during the course of renting residential buildings for Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and inflicting a loss of a billion rupees to the national exchequer. A case was registered against him and he was arrested on March 15, 2011. A Rawalpindi court granted him bail on August 27.

The apex court took suo motu notice of the Hajj case only because three factors made it a public controversy, pointed out Kazmi. These included a letter by the Saudi Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud disclosing financial irregularities in Hajj arrangements, statement made by former science and technology minister, Azam Sawati, and the statement issued by Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Umar Khan Ali Sherzai.

“The Saudi prince had respectfully addressed me in his letter and the chief justice was only sent a copy of it,” claimed Kazmi. “I have filed a case against Azam Swati seeking damages from him,” said Kazmi, adding that Sawati’s name was not included in the witness list but his statement was one of the reasons behind the suo motu. He didn’t criticise the court’s suo motu outright but pointed out that the court should differentiate between its rights and obligations.” Following a murder attempt on his life on September 2, 2009, Kazmi claimed that the IG Islamabad at that time had warned him that he was “sitting on top of a cache of explosives.”

“He was referring to the monopoly enjoyed by specific schools of thought at various cadres of the ministry,” said Kazmi. “A number of people were eyeing the ministry, but when I was chosen they tried to ruin my reputation.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Hajj scam: Hamid Saeed Kazmi released on bail</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/426844/hajj-scam-court-admits-kazmis-bail-orders-immediate-release</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/426844/hajj-scam-court-admits-kazmis-bail-orders-immediate-release#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Aug 12 08:28:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mudassir.raja]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=426844</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Special Judge had directed Kazmi to submit two surety bonds of Rs100,000 each.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Former federal minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi was released on bail from Adiala jail on Monday. 

Earlier, the trial court - hearing the Hajj corruption case of 2010 - had granted him bail against surety bonds and ordered his immediate release, Express News reported.

Special Judge Muhammad Ahmad Farooqui had directed him to submit two surety bonds of Rs100,000 each.

The former minister had been incarcerated in Adiala Jail for one year and five months.

The two other accused in the scam, former additional secretary to ministry of religious affairs Raja Aftabul Islam and former director-general Hajj Rao Shakeel were also present during the hearing.

Shakeel filed an application, requesting the court to unfreeze his salary account.

The court reserved its judgement on his application which will be announced during the next hearing on August 30, 2012.

Kazmi, Shakeel and Islam were accused of indulging in widespread corruption during the course of renting residential buildings for Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and inflicting a loss of a billion rupees to the national exchequer. Most of the buildings rented by the Hajj administrators were five kilometres away from the Haram Sharif, while according to law the accommodation for Hajjis should not be more than two kilometres away.

All three of them, if summoned, will have to appear in the hearings of the case in future.]]>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Hussain Asghar: SC seeks report on Hajj probe chief</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/422785/hussain-asghar-sc-seeks-report-on-hajj-probe-chief</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/422785/hussain-asghar-sc-seeks-report-on-hajj-probe-chief#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 16 Aug 12 04:13:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=422785</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The chief justice directed the secretary establishment to expedite the inquiry.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the secretary establishment to expedite the inquiry matter of former Inspector General Police of Gilgit-Baltistan Hussain Asghar and submit report by August 28.


A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry resumed the hearing of a suo motu case related to corruption in Hajj arrangements in 2010.

The chief justice directed the secretary establishment to expedite the inquiry and remarked if Asghar had reported to the establishment division he should be rereinstated and subsequently resume inquiry into the Hajj corruption case.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2012. ]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/422785-HussainAsgharphotofile-1345090340/422785-HussainAsgharphotofile-1345090340.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>Hajj 2012: NAB forms committee to check irregularities</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/413989/hajj-2012-nab-forms-committee-to-check-irregularities</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/413989/hajj-2012-nab-forms-committee-to-check-irregularities#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 28 Jul 12 05:32:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=413989</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Committee will be mandated to make proposals on Hajj policy implementation.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has established a ‘prevention committee’ to oversee all Hajj operations this year.


The committee, scheduled to hold its first meeting on July 31 in Islamabad, has been constituted by NAB Chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari, under section 33C of the National Accountability Ordinance (NAO) 1999, to check any irregularities in Hajj operations.

Tainted by lack of service provision and corruption scandals each year, Hajj operations have become the centre of mega embezzlement inquiries, which have involved former minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi, former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s son and other senior officials.

The prevention committee’s mandate will include making consensus recommendations on Hajj policy implementation, registration of Hajj organisers, hiring of buildings in Saudi Arabia, bookings and ticketing as well as running awareness campaigns.

According to the NAB media office, the committee has representation from the ministries of religious affairs, foreign affairs, finance, law justice and parliamentary affairs as well as interior. Additionally, the Pakistan International Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, cabinet division and representatives of private Hajj tour operators are also members of the committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28th, 2012.]]>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Hussain Asghar heads back to FIA</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/411199/hussain-asghar-heads-back-to-fia</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/411199/hussain-asghar-heads-back-to-fia#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 21 Jul 12 04:56:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[shabbir.mir]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilgit Baltistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=411199</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[G-B govt relieves former Hajj scam investigator from his post as the region’s IGP.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government finally relieved its police chief Hussain Asghar from his duties on Friday, after his suspension orders were submitted to the Supreme Court a day earlier.


“Hussain Asghar is no more the Inspector General of Police in Gilgit-Baltistan as he has been relieved of his duties today (Friday),” Regional Education Minister Dr Ali Madad Sher, who is also the G-B government’s spokesperson, told The Express Tribune.

Asghar has left Gilgit for Islamabad and will report to the concerned department, Sher said, adding that Mohammad Ali Khan, the local DIG, has been made acting IGP till Asghar’s replacement arrives in Gilgit.

The Supreme Court had directed the government to suspend Asghar and withhold his salary for failing to report back to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the Hajj scam.

Chief Minister Mehdi Shah, however, said last week that Asghar would continue working in his capacity as the IGP if a replacement of his (Shah’s) choice was not appointed.

Shah also said that the Supreme Court orders did not apply to G-B given the vague constitutional status of the region.

However, Hussain was quietly relieved after Attorney General Irfan Qadir produced his suspension notification before a three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on Thursday.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2012.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/411199-HussainAsgharphotofile-1342846550/411199-HussainAsgharphotofile-1342846550.JPG" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>Establishment division suspends Hussain Asghar for defying SC orders</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/410497/establishment-division-suspends-hussain-asghar-for-defying-sc-orders</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/410497/establishment-division-suspends-hussain-asghar-for-defying-sc-orders#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jul 12 11:59:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=410497</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Asghar was previously heading investigation team probing the 2010 Hajj scandal, failed to report back to FIA.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The establishment division suspended Gilgit-Baltistan’s Inspector General of Police (IG) Hussain Asghar on Thursday for defying Supreme Court orders.

During today’s hearing, Attorney General Irfan Qadir produced the suspension notification for Asghar before a three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Qadir also told the bench that Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf had been informed about the court order.

The bench adjourned the hearing for an indefinite time period after receiving the suspension notification for Asghar.

Asghar was previously heading the investigation team probing the 2010 Hajj scandal and was asked by the court to report back to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) headquarters, where he was earlier serving as the director general. He, however, failed to do so despite repeated orders and continued to work as Gilgit-Baltistan’s IG Police.

The then Principal Secretary to the prime minister Khushnood Lashari had assured the court earlier that Asghar’s services would be suspended if he did not report back to FIA headquarters immediately.

Chief Justice Chaudhry said there would be no compromise over the prestige of the court and voiced concern over how an officer could continuously ignore the federal government’s orders.

Justice Jawwad Khawaja also expressed dissatisfaction, questioning how the government could ensure the supremacy of Section 10 of the Civil Servants Act if orders were defied so blatantly.

Qadir added he has appointed Federal Secretary for National Regulations and Services Imtiaz Inayat Elahi as an inquiry officer to initiate departmental proceedings against Hussain Asghar.]]>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Fia Report: SC seeks update on Hajj scam probe</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/401344/fia-report-sc-seeks-update-on-hajj-scam-probe</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/401344/fia-report-sc-seeks-update-on-hajj-scam-probe#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jun 12 04:43:35 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=401344</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Joint secretary says Asghar violated the court’s orders.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court on Friday sought a progress report on the Hajj scam investigations from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).


A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry heard the Hajj corruption case.

A joint secretary of the establishment division told the court that Hussain Asghar had been informed about the court orders and an inquiry will be led against him if he does not follow them. The joint secretary added that Asghar had violated the court’s orders.

He told the bench that a summary regarding departmental action to be taken against Asghar was forwarded to the prime minister on June 27.  The PM was also requested to appoint an officer to initiate inquiry against Asghar for non-compliance of government orders. The SC directed the government on Wednesday to suspend Asghar from his current post and block his salary after learning that the police chief failed to report back to the FIA as an investigator in the Hajj scam.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 30th, 2012.]]>
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			</item><item>
			<title>FIA forensic report confirms link between Raja, Faiz in Hajj scam</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/401147/fia-forensic-report-confirms-link-between-raja-faiz-in-hajj-scam</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/401147/fia-forensic-report-confirms-link-between-raja-faiz-in-hajj-scam#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jun 12 15:41:28 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=401147</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Report found link between former Hajj joint secretary Aftabul Islam Raja and Building Hiring Supervisor Ahmed Faiz.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday submitted a forensic report before the court of Special Judge Central Khalid Shabbir in the Hajj corruption case, which confirms a link between the former Hajj Secretary and a building hiring supervisor.

The FIA compiled a 93-page forensic report which confirms a link between former joint secretary (Hajj) Aftabul Islam Raja with Building Hiring Supervisor Ahmed Faiz. The link had been earlier denied by Raja in his preliminary statement.

According to the report, data and dozens of pictures recovered from the laptop computer of Raja proved that Ahmed Faiz was the front man for Aftabul Islam Raja and former director general (Hajj) Rao Shakeel.

However, the report did not provide any evidence against former Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi in the graft case pertaining to hiring accommodation facilities for Pakistani Hujjaj in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj of 2009.

The FIA presented Kazmi, Raja and Rao in the court, which is in the process of recording statements of witnesses in the case, under the strict security cover.

Earlier, the trial court had indicted Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Rao Shakeel and Aftabul Islam Raja in the Hajj corruption case. It charged them with acquiring residential buildings for Pakistani pilgrims at exorbitant rates, taking commission, making advance payments in violation of the policy and appointing Ahmed Faiz as the Building Hiring Supervisor. A committee, led by Parliamentary Secretary for Religious Affairs Mehboobullah Jan, had visited Saudi Arabia soon after completion of the post-Hajj flight operations 2009 to get feedback on arrangements made for the pilgrims.

The five-member parliamentary committee submitted its report based on the findings and recommendations to the then Minister for Religious Affairs, pointing out a billion rupee corruption scam in hiring residential buildings for Hujjaj.]]>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Police chief suspension orders not received: G-B</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/400895/police-chief-suspension-orders-not-received-g-b</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/400895/police-chief-suspension-orders-not-received-g-b#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jun 12 03:55:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category><category><![CDATA[Gilgit Baltistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=400895</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[We haven’t received any directives so far on IG Hussain Asghar, CM secretariat official says.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government on Thursday said it hadn’t received any orders regarding G-B Inspector General (IG), Hussain Asghar, against whom the Supreme Court has directed the government issue suspension orders.


“We haven’t received any directives so far on IG Hussain Asghar,” Sajjadul Haq, an official in the chief minister secretariat told The Express Tribune on Thursday.  Let the directives come first, he said, adding that the G-B government will take a decision only after receiving concrete orders.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court directed the government to suspend Asghar from his current post and block his salary after learning that the police chief failed to report back to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as an investigator in the Hajj scam. Earlier this month, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan, Mehdi Shah, told media in Gilgit that he would release Asghar after choosing an alternative from the names sent to him by the federal government.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Defying orders: Apex court orders G-B police chief’s suspension</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/400329/defying-orders-apex-court-orders-g-b-police-chief%e2%80%99s-suspension</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/400329/defying-orders-apex-court-orders-g-b-police-chief%e2%80%99s-suspension#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jun 12 05:16:03 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=400329</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Court told Hussain Asghar is not willing to relinquish his charge as G-B IG.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court took serious exception on Wednesday after learning that Gilgit-Baltistan’s police chief has not assumed charge in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as the investigator in the Hajj scam, despite its orders.

The court directed the government to suspend Hussain Asghar from his current post and block his salary.

Deputy Attorney General Dil Muhammad Alizai told the court that Asghar, himself, was not willing to relinquish his charge as the G-B inspector general of police.

Presiding over a three-judge bench of the apex court, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry asked Alizai what disciplinary action has been initiated against Asghar in this regard.

The deputy attorney general assured the court that steps are being taken against Asghar.

The court, in its order, asked him to produce a written reply on behalf of Establishment Secretary Khushnood Lashari who had assured the court during the previous hearing that disciplinary action would be taken against Asghar if he did not relinquish his charge.

The chief justice asked the establishment secretary to suspend Asghar from his current post and write a letter to the auditor general of Pakistan to block his salary for not complying with the chief executive of the country’s orders. Alizai told the court that Asghar would relinquish charge if an alternative officer is posted to replace him.

The deputy attorney general sought the court’s direction to initiate action against Asghar but the court refused to give any order in this regard and asked him to submit the government’s response instead.

Asghar was in the middle of investigating the Hajj corruption scam, when he was abruptly transferred to G-B last year.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Notification issued: Hajj scam investigator ordered back to FIA</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/391058/notification-issued-hajj-scam-investigator-ordered-back-to-fia</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/391058/notification-issued-hajj-scam-investigator-ordered-back-to-fia#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 09 Jun 12 04:47:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=391058</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[AG Irfan Qadir says notification on transfer issued already.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court was informed on Friday that the federal government has issued notifications for the reinstatement of Hussain Asghar in the Federal Investigation Agency to continue probing the Hajj scam.

A three-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing a suo motu case of corruption during the Hajj in 2010.

Attorney General Irfan Qadir told the court that the government has issued a notification regarding the transfer of Asghar, currently the Inspector General of Police in Gilgit-Baltistan, back in the FIA and he would report back very soon.

Noting the prompt action, Chief Justice Chaudhry appreciated Qadir for becoming a strong attorney general in contrast with his predecessor who failed to bring Asghar back.

The case has been adjourned till June 20.

On June 5, Khushnood Lashari, who also holds the charge of Establishment Secretary, informed the court that they had proposed three names to the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister to replace Asghar as the police chief in G-B. However, he added, the chief minister was unwilling to release Asghar, citing poor law and order situation and sectarian violence in the region.

However, the court refused to accept the explanation and ordered the government to suspend the notification of Asghar as the police chief.

It had warned that if Asghar failed to report back to the FIA headquarters, strict action would be taken against him.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Hajj scam: SC orders Hussain Asghar to rejoin FIA in three days</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/389434/hajj-scam-sc-orders-hussain-asghar-to-rejoin-fia-in-three-days</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/389434/hajj-scam-sc-orders-hussain-asghar-to-rejoin-fia-in-three-days#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 06 Jun 12 03:59:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[azam.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=389434</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says G-B chief minister has no right to stop Asghar from reporting back to FIA.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[While hearing the Hajj corruption case on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered former Federal Investigation Agency director Hussain Asghar to rejoin the agency within three days.


Asghar was investigating the Hajj corruption case before he was abruptly transferred and appointed as the police chief of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) last year.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, directed Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Khushnood Lashari to suspend the notification of Asghar’s appointment as IGP for G-B if he failed to report back to the FIA headquarters by June 8.

Lashari, who also holds the charge of establishment secretary, informed the court that they have proposed three names to the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister for Asghar’s replacement.

However, he added, the chief minister was unwilling to release Asghar, citing poor law and order and rising sectarian violence in the region.

Justice Chaudhry, however, said the law and order situation was poor in other parts of the country as well, and added that the chief minister had no right to stop Asghar from reporting back to the FIA. Being a civil servant Asghar is under the command of the prime minister, he said.

While submitting a report, Attorney General Irfan Qadir pointed out that despite the issuance of a notification of the Supreme Court’s July 25, 2011 order, Asghar had not reported back to the FIA.

The chief justice said that as far as employees of the FIA are concerned, they are bound to obey the federal government; otherwise disciplinary proceedings can be initiated against them.

“We are of the opinion that despite the direction of this court and order of the federal government, if Hussain Asghar does not report back to the FIA headquarters, then the establishment secretary is bound to proceed against him not only violating his order but the direction of the apex court,” said Justice Chaudhry.

He ordered Lashari to suspend Asghar’s notification and ask the Accountant General Pakistan Revenues to stop his salary, in case of failure to comply with the court’s orders.

The attorney general, however, stepped in to say that Asghar should not be suspended without being heard. The case was adjourned till June 8.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2012.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/389434-supremecourtafp-1338955107/389434-supremecourtafp-1338955107.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Hajj scam: SC orders Hussain Asghar to rejoin FIA</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/389106/hajj-scam-sc-orders-hussain-asghar-to-rejoin-fia</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/389106/hajj-scam-sc-orders-hussain-asghar-to-rejoin-fia#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 05 Jun 12 08:24:04 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=389106</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Supreme Court orders Hussain Asghar to rejoin FIA before June 8.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court, during the hearing of the Hajj corruption case on Tuesday, ordered the investigating officer (IO) Hussain Asghar to rejoin the FIA before June 8, Express News reported.

The court further stated that the officers deployed in the provinces were obliged to accept orders given by federal government officers.

A three-member bench, presided over by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, heard the trial. The court questioned the attorney general (AG) regarding the whereabouts of Hussain Asghar to which the AG replied that according to the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), calling Asghar back would cause chaos in the province.

To this the Chief Justice remarked that Hussain Asghar was a federal employee and as such could be recalled at any time, further stating that the current government even sent police officers back to Balochistan, at the orders of the court.

The court further deliberated that Asghar be brought back, else the court would suspend his notification.

"Asghar reports to the prime minister, not the chief minister of GB," said the chief justice while ordering for Asghar's transfer to be cancelled and salary withheld.

The attorney general then pleaded with the court for one more chance. The court responded by adjourning the case until June 8.

The court, in the short order, said that Asghar was delaying reporting to the FIA.

"The secretary establishment is bound to take action against him." said the chief justice.

"Every federal government employee has the duty to implement the government's orders. Otherwise they will have to face disciplinary action."]]>
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			<title>Hajj scam: Irked SC orders IO’s retransfer to FIA</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/387196/hajj-scam-irked-sc-orders-io%e2%80%99s-retransfer-to-fia</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/387196/hajj-scam-irked-sc-orders-io%e2%80%99s-retransfer-to-fia#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 12 04:01:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[azam.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=387196</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Seeks cancellation notice of Asghar’s appointment as G-B police IG by June 5.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[An irked Supreme Court has expressed its displeasure over the non-implementation of its orders in the Hajj scam case — specifically about the repatriation of investigation officer Hussain Asghar from Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).


While ordering Asghar’s retransfer, the court also sought a cancellation notice of his appointment as the Inspector General (IG) by June 5. If the directives are not followed, the court will summon the interior and establishment secretaries to explain the flouting of its orders.

The bench warned that if Asghar is not reappointed in the FIA, action would be taken against officials responsible for violating court orders.

Asghar had been tasked to investigate the Hajj corruption case and is currently serving as the IG police of G-B.

On Thursday, a three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry gave these directions while hearing the suo motu case on alleged corruption in Hajj quota allocations.

The bench noted that its orders dated August 26, 2011 and May 2, 2012 – through which the interior ministry was directed to cancel the transfer of the Hajj corruption case probing officer – had not been complied with. During the course of proceedings, the bench asked Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Shafi Chandio to explain why the orders were not followed.

Chief Justice Chaudhry recalled that former establishment secretary Sohail Ahmad had cancelled Asghar’s transfer notification but the interior secretary had delayed the implementation process despite the fact that there were clear directions for him to dispose of this matter as soon as possible.

The bench observed that there were precedents set in the past in which transfers of police officials were cancelled by concerned authorities without seeking consent of these officers. The court also stated that these officers were serving the federal government, which had full authority to transfer and post them wherever required.

“There were precedents set in which under the court’s directives, such transfers were withdrawn,” the chief justice pointed out.

The court asked the interior ministry to appoint another counsel because Babar Awan’s licence had been suspended. “Therefore, the federal government should appoint someone else as their lawyer.” The bench also stopped FIA legal director Azam Khan to offer an explanation over the issue on behalf of the interior secretary.

Chief Justice Chaudhry remarked that FIA officials should represent their body instead of other departments or officials.

The interior secretary, had earlier, submitted a report stating that Asghar could not be reappointed as the probing officer in the Hajj scam case because of the deteriorating law and order situation of G-B.

The chief justice observed that Asghar showed “positive progress” in the probe and ordered the interior ministry to cancel his transfer and bring him back to the FIA.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2012.]]>
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			<title>Long arm of the law: Court indicts ex-minister in Hajj scam</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/386659/long-arm-of-the-law-court-indicts-ex-minister-in-hajj-scam</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/386659/long-arm-of-the-law-court-indicts-ex-minister-in-hajj-scam#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 31 May 12 04:07:55 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mudassir.raja]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=386659</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Ex-minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, former Hajj DG Rao Shakeel and Raja Aftabul Islam plead not guilty.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A trial court on Wednesday indicted former federal minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi and two others in the Hajj corruption scam.


Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Central Special Judge Khalid Shabir indicted Kazmi, former Hajj director general (DG) Rao Shakeel and former religious affairs joint secretary Raja Aftabul Islam for corruption in obtaining costly residences for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and receiving kickbacks worth Rs17.5 million.

The three arrested accused, however, pleaded not guilty and said they would face trial and try to prove their innocence.

The court issued arrest warrants for yet to be arrested accused Ahmed Faiz — the building supervisor and the alleged front man for Kazmi. Faiz is accused of taking commission on behalf of the former minister. The trial court put off the hearing till June 5 and directed the prosecution in the case to produce 10 of its witnesses on the next date of hearing.

‘I was wrongly implicated
in the scam’ 

After the court proceedings, Kazmi told the media that subordinate courts had been reluctant to provide any relief to him owing to the pending suo motu notice of the Supreme Court.

Kazmi said the FIR lodged in 2010 had wrongly ‘implicated him’ in the scam. He said that the FIA officials told the court during the hearing that they were ‘under pressure’.

He said the list of witnesses in the case did not have the name of former minister Azam Swati, on whose statement suo motu action was taken against Kazmi.

Swati had pursued the Hajj corruption case in the Supreme Court relentlessly, which ultimately forced the government to sack Kazmi.

“Swati’s claims were proven wrong last year in January in the Supreme Court — the same person who brought me here. His name is not there among the witnesses,” Kazmi said.

He said that he had filed a case against Swati for compensation of the damages made to him. Kazmi was of the view that the court did not have any grounds to frame charges against him and to indict him and that he will challenge the indictment.

“When the prosecution says that they have no evidence against me, then why did they indict me? You see where I stand.”

According to FIA Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali, the former minister along with two other officials had been found involved in the corruption scam after a parliamentary committee visited Saudi Arabia and conducted an inquiry against them.

The accused in custody are charged with obtaining 87 buildings away from Makkah and paying maximum advance as rent. Faiz is accused of hiring the buildings and obtaining commission through that.

Kazmi is also accused of reserving many seats despite the fact there was no quota system under the then Hajj policy, the prosecutor added.

On May 25, the trial court had rejected the acquittal plea of the former federal minister calling it premature.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2012.]]>
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			<title>2010 Hajj scam: Kazmi, Aftabul Islam, Rao Shakeel indicted</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/386224/2010-hajj-scam-kazmi-aftabul-islam-rao-shakeel-indicted</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/386224/2010-hajj-scam-kazmi-aftabul-islam-rao-shakeel-indicted#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 30 May 12 06:34:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mudassir.raja]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=386224</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Charge sheet presented to accused who pleaded not guilty; say they will prove that judgement was wrong.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The trial court hearing the Hajj corruption case of 2010 indicted former federal minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi along with two other accused in the scam, former additional secretary to ministry of religious affairs Raja Aftabul Islam and former director-general Hajj Rao Shakeel, Express News reported Tuesday.

Special Judge Central Mian Khalid Shabbir presided over the hearing in which a charge sheet was presented to the accused who pleaded not guilty and said that they will prove that the judgement was wrong.

The court summoned prosecution witnesses on the next date of hearing.

‘I was trapped in the scam’

Speaking to the media outside the court Kazmi said that the FIR lodged in 2010 had “trapped him” in the scam.

He said that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials told the court during the hearing that they were “under pressure”.

Speaking about his acquittal plea, former minister said that “he wasn’t given relief according to the law” for which he was disappointed.

He said that the list of witnesses in the case did not have the name of former minister Azam Swati, on whose statement, suo moto action was taken against Kazmi.

Swati had pursued the Hajj corruption case in the Supreme Court relentlessly, which ultimately forced the government to sack former religious affairs minister.

Kazmi said, “Swati’s claims were proven wrong last year in January in the Supreme Court – the same person who brought me here. His name is not there among the witnesses.”

He further said that he had filed a case against Swati for compensation of the damages made to him.

He said that the court did not have any grounds to frame charges against him and to indict him and that he will challenge the indictment.

“When the prosecution says that they have no evidence against me, then why did they indict me? You see where I stand,” he said.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/386224-hamidsaeedkazmiepa-1338359453/386224-hamidsaeedkazmiepa-1338359453.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			<title>2010 Hajj scam: Kazmi acquittal plea rejected as 'premature'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/384056/2010-hajj-scam-kazmi-acquittal-plea-rejected-as-premature</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/384056/2010-hajj-scam-kazmi-acquittal-plea-rejected-as-premature#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 25 May 12 06:26:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[web.desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=384056</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Court says indictment of accused in next hearing on May 30.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The trial court hearing the Hajj corruption case of 2010 rejected the acquittal plea of former federal minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi saying it was premature, and adding that the accused would be indicted on May 30, Express News reported on Friday.

Special Judge Central Mian Khalid Shabbir rejected the acquittal plea, saying that the trial was not complete, therefore, the accused could not be acquitted.

During the hearing, special public prosecutor Federal investigation Agency (FIA) Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali argued before the court that it was a suo motu case which was still pending before the Supreme Court.

“Hearing the bail application of accused, former additional secretary, Ministry of Religious Affairs Raja Aftabul Islam some 20 days ago, the Supreme Court directed the trial court to complete the trial in the Hajj corruption case within three months,” he said.

The prosecutor added that since evidence was yet to be examined, witnesses were still pending and the trial was far from complete, the accused could not be acquitted as yet.

Kazmi was imprisoned due to his negligence and involvement in the Hajj scam when Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took suo motu notice after receiving a letter from Saudi Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday had also received applications from different pilgrims, accusing three MNAs and two Senators of embezzlement in Hajj arrangements in 2010.]]>
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				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/384056-kazmi-1337926316/384056-kazmi-1337926316.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			</item><item>
			<title>2010 Hajj scam: Judgment reserved in Kazmi’s acquittal plea</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/383479/2010-hajj-scam-judgment-reserved-in-kazmi%e2%80%99s-acquittal-plea</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/383479/2010-hajj-scam-judgment-reserved-in-kazmi%e2%80%99s-acquittal-plea#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 24 May 12 04:50:25 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=383479</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[FIA prosecutor argues against ex-minister’s release; verdict on May 25.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A trial court hearing the Hajj corruption case of 2010 reserved its judgement on Wednesday regarding the acquittal of former federal minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi and said the decision will be finalised on May 25.


Special Judge Central Mian Khalid Shabbir put off the hearing after both the defence and prosecution completed their arguments for and against Kazmi’s acquittal.

The Federal investigation Agency’s Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali said that Kazmi should not be acquitted without facing trial. However, Kazmi’s counsel Advocate Sardar Naseer Ali, maintained that the committee to hire residences for pilgrims was not constituted by the former religious affairs minister.

The lawyer informed the court that the committee that allegedly hired 87 buildings five kilometres away from Haram Sharif at exorbitant prices and paid 55% as advance was formed by former director general Hajj Rao Shakeel Ahmed and not Kazmi. Advocate Naseer maintained that some 129 other buildings were hired in accordance with the Hajj policy within a radius of 2 and 2.5 km and only 15% advance was paid when Kazmi was the minister for religious affairs.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2012.]]>
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			<title>2010 Hajj scam: Judgement reserved, to be announced on May 25</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/382940/2010-hajj-scam-judgement-reserved-to-be-announced-on-may-25</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/382940/2010-hajj-scam-judgement-reserved-to-be-announced-on-may-25#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 23 May 12 08:16:05 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mudassir.raja]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=382940</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Kazmi’s counsel contends that FIA did not have any evidence against Kazmi.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[A trial court reserved its judgement in the 2010 Hajj corruption scam case on Wednesday and stated that it will be announced on Friday, May 25.

Special Judge Central Mian Khalid Shabbir presided over the hearing of an acquittal plea of former federal minister for religious affairs and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Member of National Assembly (MNA) Hamid Saeed Kazmi.

Kazmi appeared before the court along with two other accused in the scam, former additional secretary to ministry of religious affairs Raja Aftabul Islam and former director-general Hajj Rao Shakeel.

Kazmi’s counsel, Sardar Nasir, contended before the court that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) did not have any evidence against Kazmi and that the witnesses cited by the investigative agency in the report had already said that he had no connection with any kind of corruption during the Hajj process.

Nasir further said that the former minister for religious affairs was being accused of renting out 87 residential buildings far away from the Kaaba at exorbitant prices, but he was not being given any benefit by the prosecution for 129 residential buildings he rented out at normal prices according to the market rates back then.

Kazmi, Shakeel and Islam were accused of indulgence in widespread corruption during the course of hiring residential buildings for Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and inflicting a loss of Rs1 billion to the national exchequer.

A Saudi prince had also written a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan in this regard.

Most of the buildings purchased by the Hajj administrators are 5km away from the Haram Sharif, while according to laws, the accommodation should not be more than 2km away. The administration showed the rent to be Saudi Riyal 3,600 (maximum expenditure assigned by Hajj Policy 2010) while the actual fare was Saudi Riyal 2,500.]]>
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			<title>Hajj 2010: Slow Hajj scam investigation annoys apex court</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/373310/hajj-2010-slow-hajj-scam-investigation-annoys-apex-court</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/373310/hajj-2010-slow-hajj-scam-investigation-annoys-apex-court#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 12 03:39:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[azam.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=373310</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Seeks detailed FIA report of its findings so far.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concerns over the sluggish progress in investigations of the 2010 Hajj scam and sought an in-depth report from the Federal Intelligence Agency (FIA) of its findings to date.


The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Member of National Assembly (MNA) Hamid Saeed Kazmi was imprisoned due to his negligence and involvement in this scam. A two-judge bench of the apex court comprising Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan and Justice Jawwad S Khawaja resumed hearing of the suo motu case regarding corruption in Hajj arrangements in 2010.

During the hearing, Additional DG FIA, Inam Ghani, apprised the bench that the FIA had not received the LLB degree verification from Zakria University Multan for one of the alleged accomplices in the scam, Zain Sukhera, a close friend of Premier Gilani’s son.

The court questioned as to why the verification process was not completed, despite lapse of more than 13 months. Justice Khawaja added that the verification process takes ten minutes and that it is unclear as to why the court’s order was not adhered to.

During the hearing, a report pertaining to investigation against Director Hajj Rao Shakeel, former secretary establishment Ismail Qureshi and Joint Secretary Hajj, S M Tahir, was presented before the bench stating that challans were submitted to the court concerned against all three officials on April 25, 2010.

The bench was informed that Qureshi was declared innocent by the FIA, based on which, Justice Khawaja inquired why his name was placed in the list of submitted challans.

Deputy Attorney General Shafi Muhmmad Chandio sought time from the bench to submit his reply in this matter. The FIA director also sought more time from the apex court, citing insufficient time as his reason, since he was assigned the task of probing the scam recently on April 20, 2012.

The hearing was adjourned for two weeks with the court seeking a comprehensive report of the findings so far.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had taken suo motu notice after receiving a letter from Saudi Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and applications received by Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday from different pilgrims, accusing three MNAs and two Senators of embezzlement in Hajj arrangements in 2010.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2012.]]>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Hajj scam: FIA declares Rasool guilty of fraud</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/354757/hajj-scam-fia-declares-rasool-guilty-of-fraud</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/354757/hajj-scam-fia-declares-rasool-guilty-of-fraud#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 25 Mar 12 04:45:45 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[our.correspondent]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=354757</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He is guilty of minting money from people on the pretext of Hajj.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has declared former media advisor to the prime minister, Khurram Rasool, guilty of minting money from people on the false pretext of sending them for Hajj.


Rasool is also currently involved in another fraud case with the FIA Karachi.

In an interim investigation report, the FIA stated that the accused obtained approximately Rs1 million from nine different people saying a special plane was being chartered for Hajj on the directions of the premier.

Rasool has been accused of depriving Agha Mujeeb Ahmed and his family members of Rs945, 000 and confiscating their passports. The accused was allegedly helped by Shahzab and Muhammad Fiaz.

The investigators said in their report that Shahid Mehmood, Rasool’s brother, handed over the nine passports and Rs200, 000. The rest of the money is yet to be recovered.

Sub Inspector Mazhar Ali Shah of the FIA further said that the two alleged accomplices of Rasool will be arrested soon.

An FIR was filed against Rasool on the complaint of Ahmed on February 7, 2012 under sections 406, 420, 468, 471 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The complainant alleged that he, along with eight other persons, gave Rasool Rs945,000 along with passports for sending them to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. However, Rasool later confiscated the passports.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 25th, 2012.]]>
			</content:encoded>
			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/354757-KhurramRasool-1332650589/354757-KhurramRasool-1332650589.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
            </image>
			</item><item>
			<title>Hajj corruption scam: Kazmi to be formally indicted on Oct 15</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/267998/hajj-corruption-scam-kazmi-to-be-formally-indicted-on-oct-15</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/267998/hajj-corruption-scam-kazmi-to-be-formally-indicted-on-oct-15#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 11 05:05:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[mudassir.raja]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=267998</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[FIA releases interim charge sheet; Ahmed Faiz declared proclaimed offender.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The trial court in the Hajj corruption scam has fixed October 15 as the date to formally indict the main accused, former federal minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi, and two other officials in a bid to officially commence the trial. 


Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Special Judge Syed Ikhlaq Ahmed on Wednesday distributed copies of the interim charge sheet submitted by the FIA to former minister Kazmi, former director-general Hajj Rao Shakeel and former joint secretary ministry of religious affairs Raja Aftabul Islam in the court.

Furthermore, the trial court directed investigators to submit a complete investigation report by the next date of hearing and declared Ahmed Faiz, another accused, a proclaimed offender.

According to the FIA’s charges, former minister’s front man, Faiz, obtained residences for the pilgrims last year on high rates with poor facilities. The investigators alleged that Kazmi amassed assets beyond his declared sources of income and failed to satisfy the FIA investigators.

The two other officials had been accused of making poor and costly arrangements for the pilgrims and arranging residences in far-off areas in Makkah. Faiz is accused of renting out residences far away from Haram on extremely high rates and for allegedly receiving Rs180 million as kickbacks.

Investigators further said that there was a link between former minister Kazmi and Faiz, which could be proven through a recorded telephonic conversation between the two.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2011. ]]>
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			<image>
				    <img src="https://i.tribune.com.pk/media/images/267998-KazmiPHOTOINP-1317877622/267998-KazmiPHOTOINP-1317877622.jpg" class="featured_image"/>
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			</item><item>
			<title>Peace in a turf war</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/224226/peace-in-a-turf-war</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/224226/peace-in-a-turf-war#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 04 Aug 11 16:42:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[anwer.mooraj]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=224226</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[I said: the real problem for the malaise was there is no rule of law and a PM decides which SC edicts to implement.]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Whenever I read about the daily death toll in the killing fields of Karachi, those remarkable lines by Rudyard Kipling come to mind. “And the lure of centuries plus a hundred fights/Made them slow to disregard one another’s rights”. Kipling was, of course, writing about the warriors of the North-West Frontier for whom he had an inexplicable fascination. But Kipling could have jolly well been commenting on what is currently taking place in Karachi, a city where people don’t have any rights, where the rule of law can only be found in the history books and where gunmen have discovered the most macabre way of decimating the population in the turf war.

A few days ago, Nargis Rahman, president of the Pakistan Women’s Foundation for Peace, organised a meeting in at the Hamdard University auditorium in PECHS. The purpose of the get together was to come up with possible solutions to tackle the current malaise. Predictably, the thrust of the arguments centred on the fact that each of the political parties had their hit squads and all they really needed was a nod from their area commanders to indulge in a fresh orgy of slaughter. Issues like population explosion, the breakdown of utilities, irresponsible statements by politicians which evoke reprisals, the rich-poor divide and the gradual destruction of a middle class that could ensure a measure of stability were not touched upon. The focus was on the carnage that is taking place in the city, which appears to have no chance of abating, and the hopelessness of it all.

What followed was a litany of complaints — lumped together under the generally intolerable conditions under which some citizens are living where police and Rangers have imposed a virtual state of siege. Captain Faheemuzzaman suggested that the issue could be studied from a social, political and administrative perspective. A number of other speakers chipped in and vented their spleen. The general impression, however, was that while the country’s political leaders had cast the nation adrift on a sea of wicked lawlessness, and were perfectly willing to traduce a part of the national fabric, they had no intention of putting things right and preferred nature to take its own course. I chipped in by saying that the real problem for the malaise was the fact that there was no rule of law and it is a strange country, indeed, where a prime minister decides which of the Supreme Court’s edicts should be implemented and which should be cast aside.

Some of the solutions that were offered were illuminating. Mehdi Masud revived the old Pakistan spirit by suggesting that concerned citizens should relaunch the Pakistan Movement to save the country. Justice Fakhruddin Ibrahim said that in the next election the people of Karachi should put up three committed youngsters as candidates. With their fiery idealism, frank and outspoken views they could shake up a staid, lethargic revisionist National Assembly. Karamat Ali said that strikes, which adversely affect the daily wage-earner, should be outlawed once and for all, and any party that gives such a call should be boycotted. The most significant suggestion that came from the floor was that voters should ensure that the people who have gotten this country into this mess should not be returned to power. As an Azam-Khan type of martial law is not on the cards, getting rid of this government appears to be the only viable solution.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Corruption case: Kazmi stripped of govt support in Hajj scam</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/222532/hajj-scam-court-rejects-kazmis-bail-plea</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/222532/hajj-scam-court-rejects-kazmis-bail-plea#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 03 Aug 11 05:32:02 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[qaiser.zulfiqar]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=222532</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[SC rejects ex-minister’s bail plea as additional attorney general presents evidence linking his role in the scandal.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court turned down the bail plea of former religious minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi – the main accused in the Hajj corruption scam – and Joint Secretary Aftab Islam on Tuesday.


The apex court’s decision came amidst a surprising change of events when the government – who is involved in a precarious relationship with the Supreme Court of late – unexpectedly, stepped back from defending Kazmi.

The federation’s lawyer, Additional Attorney General Karim Khan Agha, not only showed relevant pictures to the SC bench – hearing the bail plea of Kazmi and Ahmed Faiz – as evidence of their close ties in the corruption scam, but he also withdrew support from Shagufta Jumani, an MNA of the Pakistan Peoples Party involved in the case.

Agha opposed the bail application of Kazmi and Islam, saying that the government was determined to curb the pest of corruption and will not protect corrupt people under any circumstances.

Kazmi’s counsel contended before the court that an incomplete charge sheet had been filed in the case and no legitimate trail had been initiated so far.

Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani, a member of the bench, remarked that Former Hajj director general (DG) Rao Shakeel was appointed the DG despite the fact that a number of cases were lying pending against him before the accountability court.

Justice Jawad S Khawaja revealed that according to the Hajj policy, accommodation to the pilgrims was to be provided within an area of two kilometres from Haram, a requirement that was not fulfilled. He inquired about Faiz who was appointed the caretaker of pilgrims in Makkah and Madina during the 2010 Hajj.

Agha told the court that Kazmi was the one to issue an official passport to Faiz. He said that investigation into the Hajj scam revealed names of Kazmi and Jamani. Consequently, Justice Khawaja inquired why no action had been taken against Jamani if she was involved in corruption scam.

The court has already issued arrest warrants for Faiz who is accused of being a front man of Kazmi while acquiring costly and ill-equipped residences for the pilgrims in Mecca. Judge Ikhlaq Ahmed directed the FIA to paste posters of Faiz as part of the process of declaring him a proclaimed offender in the case.

The bench rejected the bail application of Kazmi after hearing these arguments and DG FIA was ordered to submit a complete investigation report on the Hajj corruption scam in the next hearing on August 18.

Meanwhile, in the suo motu case of the Hajj corruption scam, Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry ordered reinstatement of Hussain Asgher as the lead investigator of the scam who was earlier transferred to Gilgit-Baltistan as the inspector general.

Meanwhile the court put off the hearing on the pre-arrest bail plea of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan till August 11 after his lawyer did not turn up in court.

(With additional input from MUDASSIR RAJA)

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3rd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>War of words</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/222676/war-of-words-2</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/222676/war-of-words-2#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 02 Aug 11 15:54:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[editorial]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Editorial]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=222676</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[All institutions indeed must work within the frameworks laid down in the 1973 Constitution.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[As the tussle between the judiciary and the executive rages on, the prime minister has hit back strongly by stating in a firm speech in parliament that constitutional positions should be followed at all costs. Yousaf Raza Gilani has stressed that while the government is prepared to abide by court decisions and it is the right of the judiciary to interpret the law, only parliament can make new laws. This, of course, is a formula we are all familiar with. It is fundamental to our democracy and the working of its institutions and not difficult to understand at all. The problem is that a great deal of confusion and controversy has been whipped up over what are, in the broader context, relatively minor issues.

The main focus of the dispute revolves around the issue of the transfers of bureaucrats and other officials. While it is the right of the executive to carry out such administrative changes, the court has the right to intervene when there is interference with its process of investigation and decision-making. The matter is not one that cannot be resolved. The problems arise when other elements make unusual calls for the army to be called in to back the judiciary, as the Constitution states can happen. But in the current situation, this is akin to taking a hatchet to try and swipe a fly. The matter on hand, after all, only involves the posting of individuals, even though it is clear that in this matter the executive is eager to serve its own interests.

Things have already gone too far. To the prime minister’s credit, it must be said he spoke with dignity and calm. Some of the points he made were indeed valid and sensible. But it must also be noted that the government needs to implement decisions and show good intent, especially so that it is not accused of hampering court-directed investigations into the conduct of senior government functionaries such as ministers and the like. All institutions indeed must work within the frameworks laid down in the 1973 Constitution and ignore the absurd calls we are hearing for drastic solutions, adding to the tensions that already exist and create a damaging sense of instability.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 3rd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Clash of the titans: Gilani draws the line</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/222153/gilani-brushes-aside-clash-of-institutions-in-na-session</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/222153/gilani-brushes-aside-clash-of-institutions-in-na-session#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 11 18:55:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zia.khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=222153</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Says judiciary authorised to interpret constitution but making laws parliament’s prerogative.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[After almost a fortnight of tense bickering between the government and the Supreme Court, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani moved on Monday to defuse the situation by promising that his administration will ‘recognise and respect’ the judiciary’s right to interpret the constitution.


(Read: Turf Wars)

But he quickly reminded critics in a ‘full of rhetoric’ National Assembly speech that parliament was the sole state institution with exclusive powers to make or amend laws that must also not be undermined.

Gilani dispelled the impression of any clash between state organs, ridiculing media reports over the past week that his government was planning to bring an anti-judiciary resolution in Parliament.

“I want to clarify it today and I have been doing it often, I have been saying it that there can never be a clash between the parliament and the judiciary,” the premier said. “Because how is it possible that a parliament which restored the constitution with the consensus of all political parties does not respect the institution.”

Gilani said that a recent statement by Supreme Court Justice Javed Iqbal that the government is implementing all judicial decisions is ample proof of the administration’s respect for other state institutions.

The prime minister said that he had already appointed Sohail Ahmed as the secretary of the narcotics division, whose removal by Gilani as establishment secretary was at the centre of the latest bout of acrimony between the government and the judiciary.

Opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has recently been criticising the government for sidelining honest bureaucrats refusing to become partners in its allegedly corrupt practices.

But Gilani insisted that it wasn’t the case. “I respect the bureaucracy. They are my arms,” the prime minister said, hitting back at an opposition news conference earlier in the day in which some PML-N leaders called upon officials to resist the government’s ‘irrational orders’.

“They cannot do that and they won’t … it is wrong to provoke them for a mutiny,” Gilani said angrily.

Criticism

While he kept his characteristic cool, Gilani criticised the PML-N leadership for their alleged aggression against the judiciary in the past.

“I respect the Supreme Court’s decision … who else does remains in people’s memory,” he said in a veiled reference to PML-N workers’ attack on the Supreme Court in the 1990s.

Gilani’s resolve to respect the judiciary was rejected as ‘hollow rhetoric’ by a senior PML-N member who blamed his administration for disobeying the Supreme Court several times in the past.

“Hollow speeches are not enough to steer Pakistan out of the multidimensional crises,” observed Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan in a tit-for-tat speech that was followed by separate boycotts by all opposition parties.

Walkout

Members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) walked out of the house after one of its members Wasim Ahmed accused the government of ‘showing no concern’ over what he called an unbridled wave of violence against a particular ethnic community.

Two other opposition parties, PML-N and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), joined MQM later one-by-one on the same issue.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Turf wars</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221981/turf-wars-2</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221981/turf-wars-2#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 11 16:25:10 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[saroop.ijaz]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=221981</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[While independence of Judiciary is vital, is the value of judicial independence enough to override democracy itself.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The confrontation between the government and the Supreme Court has reached a point where the tongue-in-cheek jibes have now transformed into overt adversarial positions. The point of contention in the recent escalation is apparently a very trivial matter, pertaining to the appointment of an investigating officer in a case and subsequently of a few other bureaucrats. It is hardly the sort of issue which would ordinarily lead to an altercation of this magnitude between two branches of the government.

The opposition, both inside and outside of parliament, has decided to weigh in — in favour of the Court. Some like, Imran Khan, Lt-Gen (r) Hamid Gul and Gen (r) Aslam Baig have demanded an unbelievably drastic solution to the conflict, that the Supreme Court asks the armed forces to send the government packing. The nerve of the two retired generals and their concern for judicial independence and democracy is astounding, given their rather stellar records in this respect.

The primary argument is regarding the ambit of powers of both the government and the Supreme Court. The transfer and posting of government officials is admittedly an exclusive executive function and hence, is the primary argument of the federal government. The position of the Supreme Court is that the Court is empowered to interfere in executive appointments when it has a direct bearing on a matter or investigation before the Court. This is of course a reductionist rendition of the two positions but it does in my opinion capture the essence of the dispute. Both arguments are defensible and the constitutional nuances are certainly beyond the scope of an opinion piece. However, what remains glaringly conspicuous in the ongoing episode is the territorial language employed by both parties.

The conflict in itself is not exceptionally troubling and is even somewhat common in democracies. Ms Indira Gandhi’s stand-off with the then Indian Supreme Court and FDR’s (Franklin D Roosevelt’s) altercation with the US Supreme Court being prime examples. The disturbing part is the impression of a menacing, ‘last man standing’ duel. At the very core of our crises as a nation, is the confusion regarding which values should be ascribed primacy. As an example, judicial independence is a value that has to be instituted and safeguarded in any functioning democracy. The next logical question in our particular case is, whether the value of judicial independence is salient enough to override democracy itself. There are no easy, one-dimensional answers to this question. Yet, now would be the right time to attain equilibrium. And in my opinion the single most important value is democratic governance in this mix.

The lawyers movement of 2007-08 was a revolution in our context in almost every sense of the word. However, like most revolutions, it went past its intended mark. The lawyers are now ready to take to the streets cheering for the Supreme Court at the drop of a hat. There are two problems with this overzealousness; firstly, the august Supreme Court does not require street power on a regular basis. And secondly, the intimacy between the bar and the bench is unbecoming of both. To torture a cliché which is awkwardly applicable here is, ‘familiarity breeds contempt’. The lawyers are not supposed to act as the foot soldiers of the judiciary in democratic times.

As for the federal government, it is admittedly attempting to stall the implementation of the Supreme Court orders and needs to be condemned in the strongest possible terms for that. However, that does not justify an appeal to demagogy. The government has the right to appeal and ask for a review of Supreme Court orders but not to refuse implementation. On the other hand, the Supreme Court has stopped giving legal rationales for their pronouncement and the rhetoric now is focused on insaaf (justice) as opposed to qanoon (law). The distinction is not trivial. The administration of justice as opposed to law has a Solomonic tinge to it, unfettered by petty legal provisions. While that may be an admirable ideal in a utopian world, for regulating ordinary mortals it has all the makings of totalitarianism. I have no doubts regarding either the intention or the capabilities of the eminent judges of the Supreme Court. Yet taking suo motu cognisance of postings of particular bureaucrats and overruling the executive on a regular basis does not seem befitting of the apex court. Random charity is disturbing since it can by applying the same principles lead to nightmarish unfairness. The Supreme Court keeps itself occupied with a handful of high profile matters while everyday appeals are routinely placed on the back-burner. One is reminded of Judge Sturgess, who once said: “Justice is open to everyone, like the Ritz Hotel.”

At the risk of repetition, any system which allows unelected people to make all important executive decisions is either tyrannical or just one step removed, and is certainly not worth the gamble. This applies to military dictatorship, charlatans calling for khilafat and with the utmost of deference to the Supreme Court. I have no intention of defending the corrupt governance or downplay the vigilant role of the Court. However, the impression that is being conveyed right now is that the Supreme Court does not deem the present government worthy enough to govern. The problem with this condescending view is that it is the same scorn and distrust of the elected representatives that has plagued us periodically with military activism.

As for the government, it has to realise that perpetuating the victim image and portraying the Supreme Court as the oppressor is not likely to work in the long run. Both parties to the conflict see it as a win-lose situation and there lies the problem. The Supreme Court and the federal government should be mature enough through painful experiences, to learn that the existence of democratic governance and judicial independence is only possible through coexistence. Hence, serious attempts should be made to make the system work, even if it is driven by self-preservation. The khakis have utter contempt for both the parliamentarians and the judiciary. Nobody should be allowed to play the benevolent king or the big brother here. Democracy and judicial independence can either stand separately or will fall together.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>SC Order Compliance: Sohail Ahmed made narcotics’ division boss</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221849/sohail-ahmed-appointed-secretary-narcotics-control</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221849/sohail-ahmed-appointed-secretary-narcotics-control#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 11 08:47:29 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zahid.gishkori]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=221849</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Establishment secretary's suspension had been at the heart of the latest controversy between the government and the...]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Complying with a Supreme Court order, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani approved the transfer of the establishment secretary, whose suspension had been at the heart of the latest controversy between the government and the Supreme Court.


The government on Monday appointed former Establishment Secretary Sohail Ahmed as secretary, Narcotics Control Division, in what amounts to a demotion. Ahmed had effectively been suspended by being declared an ‘officer on special duty’ (OSD) after complying with an apex court order last week.

(Read: Establishment Secretary undermined my authority: PM Gilani)

The prime minister had removed Sohail Ahmad from the post, one of the three highest in the civil service, when he issued a notification, ordering the transfer of Gilgit-Baltistan Inspector-General (IG) Police Hussain Asghar to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to investigate the Hajj scam.

Hussain was transferred when he and his team were investigating multi-billion Hajj scam which cost two federal ministers their jobs.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry ordered FIA Director-General Tehsin Anwar Shah and Sohail Ahmed to reinstate Hussain Asghar and his team to probe the Hajj corruption case, warning that those who violate court orders “will be sent to jail first and will be heard later”.

The court ordered Sohail Ahmed’s reinstatement within seven days.

(Read: Hajj scam: SC gives govt 7 days for Secretary Establishment reinstatement)

The prime minister also approved postings of other BPS-22 officers of the secretariat group.  Aneesul Hasnain Musavi was posted as secretary of the ministry of national harmony and Abdul Ghaffar Soomro was posted as senior member of the Federal Land Commission.

Major-General Raja Mohammed Arif has been sent on secondment as additional secretary, defence. Accountant-General Pakistan’s Director-General (Inland Revenue and Customs) Jamal Abdul Nasir Usmani has been sent on deputation to the Benazir Income Support Programme as director-general (finance).

Economic Affairs Division’s joint-secretary Munir Ahmed has been asked to report to the Establishment Division. Meanwhile, Mussadiq Ahmed Khan, who was serving as the deputy-secretary of the Establishment Division, has been transferred to National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) as coordinator of the Citizen Damage Compensation Programme located in Cabinet Division’s Emergency Relief Cell.

An officer of the Police Service of Pakistan, Salman Chaudhry, who was serving in the National School of Public Policy in Lahore, has been is transferred to the Punjab government.

Maleeha Rashid, an officer of the District Management Group, will now report to the Punjab government.

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Proceedings’ summary: Apex court to exercise its powers of judicial review</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221723/proceedings%e2%80%99-summary-apex-court-to-exercise-its-powers-of-judicial-review</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221723/proceedings%e2%80%99-summary-apex-court-to-exercise-its-powers-of-judicial-review#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 01 Aug 11 05:26:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[express]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=221723</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Supreme Court says the Hajj corruption case was not initiated on its orders.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Supreme Court said on Sunday it will continue to safeguard the current democratic and parliamentary system, adding that the judiciary will continue to exercise its constitutional powers of judicial review of administrative and other vital matters.


In a summary of Friday proceedings of the Hajj corruption case released on Sunday by the Supreme Court, it said that while the judiciary, the legislative and the administration remain within their respective domains, the apex court will continue to pursue national interest without let or hindrance.

The apex court said that it had clarified that the case had neither been initiated on its orders nor it had taken a suo motu action in this regard.

As a matter of fact, the apex court said, when the media persons picked up reports of corruption in Hajj facilities, the prime minister formed a special parliamentary committee to review Hajj arrangements, adding that this panel was tasked to submit a report in this regard.

The committee included Maulana Muhammad Qasim, Syed Muhammad Saleh Shah, Peerzada Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, Bilal Yasin and Senator Khalid Mehmood Soomro.

The committee visited Saudi Arabia and submitted its report on September 1 last year in which it was disclosed that there had been large-scale corruption in Hajj arrangements.

A copy of the report was also sent to the Supreme Court.

Senator Khalid Soomro appealed to the apex court to take notice of the matter during a TV show.

The summary said that even before the report was submitted, the Sureme Court had received a letter from a Saudi prince, Prince Bandar bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz, adding that the letter also mentioned massive corruption in Hajj arrangements.

During all this time, it said, domestic newspapers and TV channels continued running stories about Hajj corruption.

As a result, the SC felt compelled that the Hajj corruption had not only usurped the savings of more than 25,000 pilgrims but had also brought a bad name to the country abroad.

Taking the notice the SC demanded a copy of the report from the ministry of religious affairs and also asked the ministry of foreign affairs to submit a separate report.

On July 28, the Supreme Court issued a written order which pronounced making secretary establishment division Sohail Ahmed an OSD (officer on special duty) illegal and against convention.

It said that although it was the federal government’s prerogative to post its officials wherever it wanted, but Sohail Ahmed should either be re-appointed on his previous post or any other post in line with his experience and stature.

The apex court said it had also instructed the government to reinstate Hussain Asghar from Gilgit-Baltistan to FIA, adding that the court had also ordered the drector-general of FIA to take necessary steps to finalise the investigations in connection with the Hajj corruption case. The court said the DG FIA was instructed to submit a comprehensive report in this regard within a week.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1st, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Using the ‘NA-is-sovereign’ excuse</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221404/using-the-%e2%80%98na-is-sovereign%e2%80%99-excuse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221404/using-the-%e2%80%98na-is-sovereign%e2%80%99-excuse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 31 Jul 11 16:49:47 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[rasul.bakhsh.rais]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Opinion]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=221404</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[All governments have justified their misuse of executive authority under the defence that parliament is sovereign.]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[To quote one of the great political leaders of Pakistan, Mohammad Asghar Khan: “We have learnt nothing from history.”

The reason is painful but simple — ignoring lessons of history benefit the ruling class. Watching every ruthless power struggle among politicians and military generals grabbing power for the sake of power, or twisting laws and coercing institutions by the powerful ruling groups, we are reminded of this reference of our poor memory and very weak sense of history.

The present context in which the collapse of the legal and constitutional foundation of the government is taking place is its open and brazen defiance of the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. It may not require an erudite constitutional lawyer to establish what it would mean for a political order if those in power refuse compliance with judicial decisions, primarily to protect themselves and their supporting allies against independent investigations of their corruption. It amounts to pulling the judicial system down, and they don’t seem to be bothered about this at all.

The argument of the government is as follows; all institutions must function within the constitutional boundaries allotted to them; and it is the executive’s legal privilege to appoint and transfer civil servants, and it is not obliged to do so when ordered by the judicial authority. Don’t forget this government and all others before it have justified their misuse of executive authority under the defence that parliament is sovereign because it embodies the will of the people.

These arguments can be used to mislead people, which the ruling classes have done for a very long time. The mandate of the people is to form a government but exercise power within the limits of the law and the constitution.

In most of the developing world, notably in Pakistan, political executives formed by dynastic leaders and their proxies act as civilian dictators and have used executive power like in for personalised fiefdoms. In doing this, never have they faced effective resistance from the society or from other state institutions. Every student and practitioner of politics knows that power of the political executive is restrained by the constitution; democratic norms within parties through conscientious dissent; civil society; and finally the electorates. In parochial, traditional political cultures, these indeed have proven to be very weak brakes on the power of the executive.

It is a political falsehood that popular representation can give a free licence to a representative political executive to do whatever it wants or interpret the constitutionality of its own acts itself. No, this cannot be the case in any constitutional democracy. All acts, and the general exercise of power in any form and manifestation, must be within the legal and constitutional limits. Here is the rub; who will determine the legality and the constitutionality of the executive’s decisions or even the boundaries of the executive authority? Not the executive itself, and not even the parliament, but the superior courts.

Why then such defiance? It is to protect certain members of the ruling club against independent inquiry of their misdeeds and subversion of autonomous prosecution. The clan seems to have made a choice — it is better to go down by causing a collapse of the entire system than carry the legal stigma of conviction and its social and political consequences. We hope some good sense prevails in the corridors of power to save democracy from such ‘democrats’.  

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1st, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Chess between institutions: Senior bureaucrats serve as ‘pawns’</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221160/chess-between-institutions-senior-bureaucrats-serve-as-%e2%80%98pawns%e2%80%99</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221160/chess-between-institutions-senior-bureaucrats-serve-as-%e2%80%98pawns%e2%80%99#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 31 Jul 11 06:12:55 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[haider.naseem]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Khushnood Lashari gets charge of Establishment Secretary, Sohail Ahmed made OSD.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Khushnood Lashari has been assigned the additional charge of establishment secretary. He replaces Sohail Ahmed, who has been made an ‘officer on special duty’ (OSD) for complying with the Supreme Court orders, it has been learnt.


Ahmed had issued a notification ordering the transfer of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Inspector-General of Police Hussain Asghar, a grade 20 officer, back to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as director, after the directives from the apex court.

Establishment Division Additional Secretary-II Khalid Akhlaq Gilani was also made OSD on Friday.

Sources said that Sohail Ahmed reappointed Hussain Asghar to the FIA without the permission of Prime Minister (PM) Yousaf Raza Gilani. He added that Ahmed was not bound to inform the PM or seek his permission. But the PM removed Ahmed, who took over the post on July 8 and made him an OSD.

According to the Civil Service Manual, the establishment secretary has the authority to appoint or transfer officers up to Grade-20. A summary to the PM is sent only for grades 21 and 22, or in cases involving inspector-generals of police. Since the prime minister is the competent authority, he sends back the summary to the Establishment Division, where the establishment secretary issues the notification.

Another official added that it was not Sohail Ahmed’s call to transfer Asghar from the post of IG Gigit-Baltistan without sending a summary to the PM.

In a similar order issued recently by the Supreme Court, former Secretary Establishment Abdul Rauf Chaudhry had appointed Zafar Qureshi, a Grade-21 officer of Police Service of Pakistan, without the approval of the PM.

The former establishment secretary got away with it as Zafar Qureshi was investigating the NICL corruption case at that time.

The OSD posting has been at the centre of civil service reforms and various governments have tried to get rid of this position that is seen as punitive. As OSD, the officer receives salary, but his authority to make decisions or sign a notification is taken away from him.

Sohail Ahmed could hold the position for as little as 18 days. He had taken over after serving as secretary planning for a long time.

Senior officers complained that they are losing their integrity and are being treated as mere pawns in the ongoing tussle between the Supreme Court and the government.

Hussain Asghar served as an investigation officer in the Hajj corruption case, successfully indicting the then Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi in money-laundering and corrupt practices in Hajj management.

The Establishment Division has notified the transfer and posting of other officials as well.

Establishment Division E-wing Joint Secretary Afzal Latif has been transferred to the Economic Affairs Division in place of Muhammed Asif, who has been made the E-Wing Joint Secretary.

Inamul Haq, a grade-19 officer currently serving in Balochistan, has been posted as Abandoned Properties Organization’s deputy administrator in Islamabad and Tariq Shafiq Khan has been appointed National Fertilizer Marketing Limited managing director.

Moreover, Hamidul Hussain, presently working as Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan deputy secretary, has been transferred to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Council Secretariat. Amjad Ahmed has been transferred to AJK.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31th,  2011.]]>
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			<title>Defying SC orders: Gilgit opposition party plans to sue CM</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221068/defying-sc-orders-gilgit-opposition-party-plans-to-sue-cm</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/221068/defying-sc-orders-gilgit-opposition-party-plans-to-sue-cm#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 31 Jul 11 05:36:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[shabbir.mir]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Mehdi Shah had refused to reinstate director FIA.]]>
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				<![CDATA[Labour party Gilgit-Baltistan  chapter is planning to sue Chief Minister Mehdi Shah for defying the Supreme Court’s orders that demanded Hussain Asghar be reinstated as  director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and lead investigator in the multi-million-rupee Hajj scam .


President of the G-B Labour Party, Ahsan Ali, while talking to reporters in Gilgit on Saturday accused Shah of contempt of court. He said Shah had no authority to resist any decision – even those made by the federal government – as the G-B order 2009 makes no mention of a consultation with the chief minister regarding high level postings. Ali termed the act of the chief minister ‘shameful’, saying he was helping those involved in the scam corruption worth millions of rupees.

Shah refused to accept the order made by the secretary establishment for the reinstatement of Asghar in the FIA. Sources confirmed that the G-B government had refused to release Asghar. “I haven’t been consulted,” Shah had said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 31th,  2011.]]>
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			<title>Govt, judiciary back away from confrontation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/220084/government-dispels-notions-of-clash-among-institutions</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/220084/government-dispels-notions-of-clash-among-institutions#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 30 Jul 11 04:20:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[azam.khan]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[SC avows executive’s right to transfer establishment secretary, but not to punish him for following court orders]]>
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				<![CDATA[The executive and judicial branches of government appeared to take steps back from the brink of confrontation on Friday, with the Supreme Court clarifying its earlier orders for the reinstatement of the establishment secretary, thereby reducing pressure on the PPP-led government.


While the court ordered the government to reinstate Sohail Ahmed as establishment secretary – one of the three highest positions in the federal civil service – it acknowledged that the government had the right to assign him a new post, but not to punish him for following the court’s orders. It said that the government was free to transfer him to a different position over the next seven days.

“Sohail Ahmed will remain establishment secretary until the new appointment,” the court order said, adding “if Sohail Ahmed is not given a new appointment within seven days, his notification [as officer on special duty] would be considered as null and void.”

The government, for its part, seemed to accept the court’s decision. Speaking to journalists outside the Supreme Court building after the hearing, Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq termed the decision “a good one”.

“Under the prevailing conditions, it was a beautiful decision,” said the attorney general.

Former law minister Babar Awan also welcomed the decision, saying: “Today, the court has set criteria for posting and transferring bureaucrats.”

Many people would be disappointed when they hear that there was no confrontation between the judiciary and the executive, he added.

On Friday, a six-member bench of the Supreme Court was conducting hearings into the Hajj embezzlement scandal, in which former religious affairs minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi has already been implicated.

The controversy over the court’s orders regarding civil service appointments began when the government decided to transfer Hussain Asghar, then an additional director general at the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), from his position as the lead investigating officer on the Hajj scandal, allegedly when his findings began taking a direction the government was uncomfortable with.

(Read: Confrontation unending)

Asghar was posted to Gilgit-Baltistan as the Inspector General of Police of the province. The court had ordered the establishment secretary, a position then held by Sohail Ahmed, to reinstate Asghar, an order with which Ahmed complied.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, however, was incensed that Ahmed violated his orders and made him an officer on special duty (OSD), citing as his reason the fact that the establishment secretary is not empowered to transfer officers above grade 21 (the second highest in the civil service).

On Tuesday, the court had ordered the FIA chief to reinstate Asghar as the lead investigator on the Hajj case. On Friday, however, the attorney general reported to the Supreme Court that government of Gilgit-Baltistan is unwilling to let go of Asghar’s services as the provincial police chief until the government offers a replacement appointment.

On Thursday, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Mehdi Shah and members of the G-B legislature expressed concerns over the Supreme Court order, saying they were happy with Asghar’s services and did not want to give him up.

The judges, however, were agitated at the attorney general’s response, with Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry saying that “a simple matter is being made complicated.”

Justice Akhtar Shahid Siddiqui asked Anwarul Haq if he felt the Gilgit-Baltistan government’s position was justified, to which the attorney general replied that he did not think so.

Justice Khilji Arif Hussain said the government did not seem willing to implement the court’s orders, adding that “Hussain Asghar would have arrived from Gilgit-Baltistan in 45 minutes if the government had willingness to get him back.”

The attorney general said that the government had implemented the court’s decision, though the chief justice retorted that the implementation was on paper only.

Hearings on the case were adjourned until an as yet unspecified date. (With additional input from APP)

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2011.]]>
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			<title>Institutional clash: Executive heaves a sigh of relief</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/220425/institutional-clash-executive-heaves-a-sigh-of-relief</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/220425/institutional-clash-executive-heaves-a-sigh-of-relief#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 11 23:20:48 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[zia.khan]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Pakistan]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=220425</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The two sides demonstrate a spirit of accommodation, much to the surprise of many.]]>
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				<![CDATA[The executive heaved a sigh of relief on Friday after the Supreme Court ordered the government to reinstate former secretary establishment Sohail Ahmed on the same post or transfer him to some other department. It deemed the order as a positive signal.


The meeting, a presidential spokesperson said, had been called to take key provincial functionaries into confidence regarding the current domestic situation.

The meeting is said to have discussed the trichotomy of powers between the state pillars- the parliament, executive and judiciary and resolved to uphold the supremacy of parliament over all institution.

“Parliament reflected the will of the people, it is mother of all state institutions and, therefore, it is the supreme institution,” Farhatullah Babar said after the meeting.

(Read: Showdown?: Govt, SC on collision course, again)

The meeting was chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and was attended by Punjab Governor Sardar Muhammad Latif Khosa, Governor Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Syed Masood Kausar, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Chief Minister Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Amir Haider Hoti, Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah, President-elect Azad Kashmir Sardar Yaqoub, Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, Senator Babar Awan, MNAs Rukhsana Bangash, Fouzia Habib, Raja Riaz Ahmed, MPAs and leader of the opposition in  Punjab Assembly, and presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar.

“The president told us that the government will implement every ‘constitutional’ decision of the Supreme Court. The prime minister, parliament and all other institutions must work within their domains. They should use their authority while remaining within the ambit of the Constitution,” leader of the opposition in the Punjab Assembly Raja Riaz told The Express Tribune after the meeting.

Dispelling the impression of an imminent showdown, Riaz said that everyone agreed that no one wanted a clash or confrontation with any party or institution. “The PPP does not want a clash with any political party or a state organ,” he said. “I think the situation has changed today,” he added.

Sources said the government might not reappoint Sohail as secretary establishment, but would appoint him on some other post within the next week.

A source close to the presidency said that the PPP would continue the carrot-and-stick approach. “It will expose the judges and then back down,” he said.

“We will expose the nexus by using parliament’s floor and the media from time to time. We know who is calling the shots and we are well aware of their designs,” a PPP leader considered to be among party’s policy-makers commented during an informal interaction.

The official press statement issued by the Presidency said: “The chief executives reiterated their resolve to ensure respect for all state institutions and that they worked in a spirit of harmony and within the parameters of trichotomy of power as enshrined in the Constitution. The meeting dispelled the notion propagated by some of clash of institutions and expressed satisfaction that there was no danger of any clash among institutions.”

The meeting also reposed confidence in the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gilani on Friday sought support from a ‘like-minded’ opposition party in case of ‘ultimate clash of institutions’.

The government wanted to avoid any confrontation with any state organ, Prime Minister Gilani is reported to have said during a meeting here with leader of the Opposition in Senate Maulana Ghafoor Haideri of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

But party insiders said the meeting was a part of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) policy to keep all its options open and enlist the support of key political players if the apex court continued to ‘undermine’ the executive’s authority.

Gilani’s interaction with Haideri at an unscheduled meeting on Friday morning came on the heels of a gathering of PPP allies in the presidency on Thursday night in which they decided to use parliament to ‘determine and defend’ executive’s powers.

“It is the reasonability of every parliamentarian to defend the parliament’s sanctity and authority,” Gilani was quoted as telling Haideri.

Premier’s media office did not issue any handout after the meeting and a spokesperson for the prime minister attempted to downplay the event, saying he wasn’t aware of what transpired between the two leaders.

Sources in the premier’s secretariat told The Express Tribune that Gilani immediately drove to the presidency after the meeting.

JUI-F has always been critical of the judiciary. Its leaders had hinted that the party will support if the government took any measure to rein in ‘unbridled’ institutions overstepping their authority.

There were also reports about Gilani contacting JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, which could not be substantiated.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2011.]]>
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