Arrest of accused in Hajj corruption case: Supreme Court directs FIA to submit fresh report

17 Jun, 2014

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to submit a fresh detailed report regarding steps taken to arrest accused Ahmed Faiz in Hajj corruption case and adjourned the hearing of the case till June 18 (Wednesday). The two-member bench headed by Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja and comprising Justice Mushir Alam resumed hearing of the case and expressed dissatisfaction over the FIA report.
Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja remarked that Foreign office and FIA was using delaying tactics to arrest the accused Ahmed Faiz from Saudi Arabia. During the course of proceedings, the court was informed that First Information Report (FIR) against Ahmad Faiz was lodged four years ago on the complaint of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Religious Affairs.
DG FIA Ghalib Bandesha told that three accused including former federal minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, former Director Hajj Rao Shakeel and Raja Aftab-ul-Islam have already been arrested but the authority failed to arrest Ahmad Faiz despite several attempts. The Special Prosecutor of FIA sought more time but the court rejected his plea and remarked that authorities failed to arrest accused despite passing three years.
Ghalib Bandesha informed the court that the accused was in Saudi Arabia and the authority has contacted Saudi officials several times but could not find a satisfactory reply. Justice Jawwad remarked that FIA was busy in making mockery of the courts and Hajjis and asked that if FIA could not arrest the culprit then it should submit a written reply in this regard.

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