Pakistan

Hajj scam: Swati submits written evidence against Kazmi

CJ says Supreme Court can constitute inquiry commission to look into Hajj mismanagement.

Express December 13, 2010

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Science and Technology Azam Swati submitted written evidence against Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi during Supreme Court hearings of the Hajj corruption case on Monday.

According to Express 24/7 correspondent, Faisal Shakeel, Swati said the Secretary for the Ministry of Religious Affairs had told him that Hamid Saeed Kazmi was involved in the Hajj corruption episode. He said Kazmi had appointed people who had already been facing corruption charges for the Hajj management.

Shakeel reported that Swati alleged that Ahmed Faiz who had been appointed by Kazmi as the supervisor tasked with hiring buildings was conniving with DG Hajj Rao Shakeel.

Justice Khaleelur Rehman observed that the government of Pakistan should check the credentials of the middle men with whom it enters into contracts for pilgrims’ accommodations. The Chief Justice said that the secretary had been signing agreements with these middle men without checking their credentials.

The counsel for the religious affairs minister, Sardar Latif Khosa said that Azam Swati should have resigned before raising allegations against Hamid Saeed Kazmi.

At this point, Justice Ramday observed that it was strange for a minister to sit in the cabinet despite allegations against him. He said, asking for Swati's resignation is an irrational demand.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that the Supreme Court can constitute an inquiry commission to look into Hajj mismanagement.

COMMENTS (10)

Salman | 13 years ago | Reply @ Fahim Why minister didnt care what officers in his department are upto? @Asrar both are fired..... new players new game

Syed | 13 years ago | Reply Lets not forget the fact that last year the return ticket of Hajj flight was above 100000 Rs, and the return ticket of London, at the same time by same flight was around 50000 Rs.

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Adeel Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply inshAllah they will be punished appropriately. We still have hopes from Supreme Court... albeit dying hopes, but hope nevertheless. InshAllah they will deliver.

Abrar | 13 years ago | Reply Mr Swati should remember that this corruption in Haj operation has been going on for a long time. What has changed now is the enormity and scale and the outrageous manner in which it was done. Last year the pilgrims who travelled by PIA were charged for provision of ZamZam water and Trolley Bags to the Hajis. The Director Marketing of PIA was personally involved in this irregularity with the complete backing of his MD. The trolley bags were so defective that they broke at arrival at Jeddah and the ZamZam was never provided to them. Have we forgotten the delays of haji return flights last year. The accomodation provided last year was also defective and insufficient. People were forced to live in overcrowded rooms even last year. The building were old and unsafe. Nothing was done, inspite of the hue and cry of hajis and media. What else did Mr Swati and the NA expect this time. Those involved were encouraged to do this crime of fleecing the hajis, and they have done it without any fear this time. Mr Kazmi was the Minister last year also. He did not bother, because his hands were not clean, nor were the hands of others in Haj Directorate. People look towards the Supreme Court for intervention, because they have no faith in this corrupt government. This never happened when Benazir was in power.

Fahim | 13 years ago | Reply If the secretary was involved in Hajj Scam, why should the minister unnecessarily be dragged into this?

Mohammed Abbasi | 13 years ago | Reply One cannot take away the Mollah from the Mullah

Asrar Ahmed | 13 years ago | Reply End game: Kazmi will resign. JUI -F will appoint Minister of Religious Affairs JUI-F will vote for RGST Corruption will go on.Players will change.

anwaarahmad | 13 years ago | Reply For centuries we have been plundered,humilated.injured and even killed during Haj,but we had a belief that such sufferings will elevate our position in the heaven.Now a generation with less patience has emerged who does not hesitate to complain the attitude of holy persons even.O God! O God!

KNS | 13 years ago | Reply In Hajj blessings of Allah is showered on humanity equally. And Hajj of 2010 have proven this. Blessings of Allah for pious, and blessings of Allah in form of $$$ for corrupt peoples :)

Sayed Aasim Jawaid Siddiqui | 13 years ago | Reply We the Muslims.........................................have not spared even the most religious act in our religion......If it is the minister or secretary or the doorman, who cares the thing to care is this awful deed was done on the name of Hajj...........................

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