Makhdoom Amin Fahim. PHOTO: FILE
Yousaf Raza Gilani. PHOTO: FILE
An anti-corruption court in Karachi issued non-bailable arrest warrants for former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and fellow Pakistan Peoples Party leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim in connection to the multi-billion-rupee Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) scam on Thursday.
The two senior PPP leaders were booked along with others for their alleged involvement in embezzling TDAP funds through fraudulent trade subsidies and fictitious claims when their party was in power.
More than 70 cases related to the scam had been pending before the court; Gilani and his associates were chargesheeted in 12 of these last year. However, both Gilani and Fahim obtained bail and exemptions from appearing in hearings. These cases are fixed for hearing on August 31 and the suspects are likely to be indicted.
On Thursday, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) submitted final chargesheets in a dozen more cases in which Gilani, Fahim and their accomplices were shown as absconders. Federal Anti-Corruption Court judge Mohammad Azeem, after accepting the final investigation reports for hearing, ordered arrest of the absconders and directed FIA to produce them on the next hearing on September 10.
According to the recently submitted investigation reports, embezzlements were made in freight subsides announced by the ministry of commerce under its trade policy for 2002-03 to promote export of non-traditional items which brought less than five million dollars annually in the country.
Gilani’s reaction
Reacting to the issuance of non-bailable warrants for his arrest, Yousaf Raza Gilani said he had already obtained pre-arrest bail from court. Talking to reporters via telephone, he said he would appear in court hearings voluntarily and that there was no need to arrest him.
“I’m not afraid of trial, I will not sneak away. My hands are clean and I’m ready to face the court,” the ex-premier said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 28th, 2015.
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