
The Federal Anti-Corruption Court has acquitted Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani in nine cases related to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) mega corruption scandal.
The court announced its verdict on Thursday on Gilani's acquittal pleas. The PPP leader, who served as the country's prime minister between 2008 and 2012, appeared in court during the hearing along with other co-accused.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had registered 26 cases in relation to the scandal. Gilani had already been acquitted in three of those cases previously.
Speaking to the media after the hearing, the Senate chairman said he had been facing these cases for 12 years. "Some of those who were then students are now appearing as prosecutors in the case. Delay in justice is equivalent to denial of justice," he said.
Gilani's lawyer Farooq H. Naek, speaking to the media, said a total of 26 cases were registered in 2013-14 despite the fact that similar allegations were levelled in all of them.
"Yousuf Raza Gilani was accused of receiving Rs5 million [as kickback], not directly but allegedly through a person named Zubair. No witness ever claimed that Gilani personally received the money. The court had already acquitted him in three cases. Now, nine more acquittals have been granted," he said.
Naek said the FIA's appeal against the acquittals was pending in a high court.
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