Hajj scam: Court orders removal of official’s name from FIR

FIA had arrested SM Tahir on charges of concealing facts during his appointment as Hajj director general.

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday ordered that the First Information Report (FIR) against former joint secretary relating to the Hajj scam be quashed.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had arrested SM Tahir, then Establishment Division joint secretary, on charges of concealing facts such as the age and pending cases against Rao Shakeel from the competent authority during his appointment as Hajj director general in the Religious Affairs Ministry.

The FIR was registered in March 2011. Immediately after, he filed a petition with the IHC seeking to have his name removed from the FIR. On December 8, 2011, the IHC chief justice granted him bail against surety bonds of Rs200,000.

During the course of hearing, Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui observed that Tahir’s bosses should also be implicated in the case. “But who would dare to do so in the FIA? The FIR, to the extent of the petitioner, is declared illegal.”

According to the FIA, Tahir was member of the selection committee that appointed Rao Shakeel as Hajj director general, and certain irregularities were committed during the appointment. Tahir also instructed Ahmd Faiz, the principle accused, to hire a costly building for pilgrims, said the charge sheet.

Advocate Sanaullah Zahid, representing Tahir, told the court that allegations against his client were baseless and that the FIA could not produce any evidence against him. He informed the court that Tahir cooperated with the FIA, but some other elements wanted to involve him in the Hajj scam.

Zahid maintained that the then secretary and additional secretary establishment both knew Shakeel was not eligible for the post as he was overage at the time of his appointment and was facing criminal proceedings. Despite these reservations, the summary of his appointment managed to get the approval of the prime minister, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2012.