Hajj Corruption Case: IHC rejects Hamid Saeed Kazmi's bail plea

Special judge central had sentenced the former federal minister 12 years prison term in Hajj corruption case.

Kazmi had challenged the court verdict in Islamabad High Court (IHC) and pleaded for his release bail before Eid-ul-Fitr.

The bench had reserved its judgment over the petition on June 29, which was announced today.

Kazmi’s counsel Javed Iqbal has said the court decision will be challenged in the Supreme Court.

The former minister in his appeal stated that hiring buildings for the pilgrims’ stay during Hajj was not his responsibility neither he had appointed Rao Shakeel as Director General (DG) Hajj.

He pleaded the court to declare the special judge’s sentence as null and void.

The Hajj corruption scandal rocked the country between 2010 and 2012, and led to the departure of both Hamid Saeed Kazmi and the ex-minister for science and technology Azam Swati from the federal cabinet. Kazmi also spent nearly two years in prison over charges of irregularities in the 2009 Hajj operation.

The Hajj scandal came out in the open after the Supreme Court had took suo motu notice of the plight of the Hajj pilgrims in year 2010.

Special Court Central Judge Malik Nazir Ahmad, handed 40 years jail term to Director General (DG) Hajj Rao Shakeel. Former additional secretary for religious affairs Aftab Ahamad was also awarded to 16 years sentence.