ISLAMABAD: Former federal minister and Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Hamid Saeed Kazmi has been sentenced to 12-years imprisonment in the Hajj corruption case.
Hamid Saeed Kazmi was an influential minister in thegovernment of the Pakistan People's Party that was in power from2008-2013. He was charged with hiring a substandard building to housePakistani pilgrims to Mecca in 2009, charging exorbitant rentsfrom the travellers and receiving kickbacks.
A special court also convicted two other former officials ofthe religious affairs ministry and jailed them for 12 and 30years, respectively.
The verdict was announced today by Special Judge Central Islamabad Malik Nazir Ahmad during the proceedings of the Hajj corruption case today at a court in Islamabad.
Former DG Hajj Rao Shakeel was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment by the court. Former Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Aftab Ahmed was also handed a 12-year imprisonment sentence.
Deputy Director FIA Waseem Ahmad Ranjha and lawyer Chaudhry Azhar represented the FIA during the proceedings of the case.
The suspects were accused of being involved in financial embezzlement and corruption with regard to the 2010 Hajj arrangements.
All three suspects were arrested within the court's limits by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). Rao Shakeel said that he was not satisfied with the court's judgment and had full faith in the Almighty. All three convictshave the right to appeal the order at theIslamabad High Court.