Arrest warrants issued for Gilani, Faheem in three more cases

Gilani and Faheem are booked for alleged involvement in fraudulent trade subsidies of billions of rupees.

KARACHI: An anti-corruption court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and former federal minister Makhdoom Amin Faheem on May 30 for their alleged involvement in three more cases pertaining to a multi-billion trade subsidy scam.

The court issued arrest warrants for Gilani, Faheem and the then deputy secretary (personal) to PM secretariat, Mohammad Zubair after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) submitted final investigation reports for the three cases.

The judge of the special federal anti-corruption court-I, Mohammad Azeem, issued the warrants for their arrest and summoned them on June 17. On May 29, the same court had issued warrants for nine suspects including Yousaf Raza Gilani and Makhdoom Amin Faheem in another case of subsidy scam.

Gilani and Faheem along with several former and serving officials of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and private persons have been booked for their alleged involvement for approving and disbursing fraudulent trade subsidies of billions of rupees to several fake companies through fictitious claims and backdated cheques.

According to court officials, dozens of cases pertaining to trade subsidy scams against former chairman, ex-chief executive and other senior officials of TDAP and private persons accused were pending before the court. The FIA has so far named the two stalwarts of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in four cases, the official added.

The FIA is likely to submit final charge sheets in seven more cases on Monday.