Hajj scam: Kazmi sent on 14-day judicial remand

Dozens of Kazmi's supporters gathered outside the court and chanted slogans in his favour.

ISLAMABAD:

Former minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi, allegedly involved in the Hajj scam, was sent on a 14-day judicial remand on Wednesday.

Kazmi was brought before senior civil judge Muhammad Aslam Gondal amid tight security, as dozens of his supporters gathered outside the court and chanted slogans in his favour.

During the hearing, FIA Assistant Director (Legal) Khalid Naeem Butt requested the court to send the former minister on a 14-day judicial remand after the completion of a 14-day physical remand.

He also said that during investigations, the FIA found out that the former minister’s family owned 14 plots worth Rs4 million in the Sliver Housing Society, Multan.

Defence counsel Syed Wajid Ali Gilani said FIA investigators still lacked evidence against his client, adding that Kazmi was cooperating with the investigators.

On March 15, FIA arrested Kazmi after a special court rejected his pre-arrest application. On March 17, the court sent him on a four-day physical remand which was extended till March 30.

A case was registered against Kazmi under sections 409, 403,404 and 109 for his alleged involvement in the Hajj scam.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2011.