ISLAMABAD, (MILLAT/APP): Latif Khosa, counsel for the former
federal minister for religious affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi on Friday
completed his arguments in plea challenging sentence awarded to
Kazmi in Hajj corruption case.
A single judge bench of Justice Mohsan Akhtar Kyani resumed
hearing of the case remanded back to IHC by the Supreme Court.
Advocate Latif Khosa said that his client had huge number of
devotees who were in grieve due to illegal punishment of their saint
(peer).
Khosa argued that before taking charge of the said ministry,
there were about Rs 5.7 million in the account of the Kazmi but
when he left the charge there were only Rs 1.5 million in his
account. Adding that if his client did corruption then where the
looted money had gone, he questioned.
He said that an innocent person was behind the bars for the last
three years whereas real culprits including former joint secretary
ministry of religious affairs, Raja Aftabul Islam and then DG Hajj,
Rao Shakeel were moving freely.
Khosa pleaded that all allegations levelled against Kazmi were
baseless as the real culprits were the former joint secretary
ministry of religious affairs, Raja Aftabul Islam, the then DG Hajj,
Rao Shakeel and Ahmed Faiz.
Khosa said that Islam and Rao Shakeel violated parameters made
by the Saudi Government moreover recommended Ahmed Faiz for Hajj
arrangements and covered reality from Kazmi.
The bench remarked that after receiving direction from the
Supreme Court to decide the matter within 15 days hearing of
the case would be on day to day bases including Saturday and Sunday.
Earlier, Federal Investigation Authority (FIA)
submitted complete relevant record of the case in compliance with
court orders.
After completing arguments placed by the Khosa the bench
adjourned further hearing till February 18 (Saturday)
It is pertinent to mention here that the Special Court Judge
Malik Nazir Ahmad had awarded six years imprisonment each on two
counts to the former federal minister for religious affairs, Hamid
Saeed Kazmi. The court had also imposed a fine of approximately
Rs 147.4 million each.