Hajj debacle: Gilani’s son exonerated by the FIA

FIA to prosecute PML-N lawmakers who levelled false allegations.

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has exonerated the prime minister’s son, MPA Abdul Qadir Gilani, of charges of importing a bullet-proof car from the money embezzled in the Hajj scam.

The FIA has absolved Qadir Gilani of any wrongdoing in the Hajj debacle last year for want of incriminating evidence. Two elected legislators, Imran Shah and Bilal Yasin of the PML-N  had accused him of obtaining a cut from the money swindled by organisers involved in making arrangements for the annual pilgrimage, but they withdrew their statements. They had pointed fingers at former director general Hajj Rao Shakil Ahmad for giving Qadir Gilani Rs20 million to import his bullet-proof Land Cruiser.

FIA officials have decided to initiate criminal proceedings against Imran Shah, according to a senior officer. The investigators have summoned PML-N MNA Bilal Yasin to question him over the allegations. “If he cannot substantiate his claims, legal action will be taken against him,” he said.

“The persons who levelled false allegations against me must submit ‘an unconditional apology’ and they should publicly retract their statements,” Abdul Qadir Gilani said.

“I have nothing to do with the Hajj scam; the car is my legal property,” he told The Express Tribune. However, he is yet to submit his reply to the questionnaire given to him last week. Close associates claim that Qadir has decided to file a defamation suit against PML-N MNAs in pursuance of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC).

“I never said that the PM’s son was involved in the Hajj scam or that he smuggled his car,” Yasin told The Express Tribune. “I said that officials of the ministry of religious affairs were involved in committing irregularities.”

The FIA’s legal directorate said that it will prosecute the legislators under section 182 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) for providing false information to government functionaries.

The Express Tribune contacted Imran Shah but he was not available for comments till the filing of this story.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had directed the FIA to include the Premier’s son in the investigation of the Hajj scam.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2011.