Hajj scam: Swati submits written evidence against Kazmi
CJ says Supreme Court can constitute inquiry commission to look into Hajj mismanagement.
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.
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.