Federal Minister of Science and Technology, Azam Khan Swati said that he would put forward a detailed statement with proof of corruption at the next hearing on Monday. –File Photo

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court began hearing petitions of the Hajj corruption case on Thursday. In today’s proceeding, Federal Minister of Science and Technology, Azam Khan Swati delivered a statement against the government and said that he had warned the prime minister about the ongoing Hajj corruption in a cabinet meeting.

Swati further added that the corruption was upon the orders of the Federal Minister of Religious Affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi.

Swati said that he would put forward a detailed statement with proof at the next hearing on Monday.

During the hearing, the Chief Justice asked former Director General Hajj, Rao Shakeel to justify the serious allegations against him in the scandal.

The CJ also told Shakeel that morally he should not have accepted the position of DG Hajj.

Rao Shakeel said in his defence that all the pilgrim’s residences were attained on merit. He also said that he dismissed an officer Ahmed Faiz upon corruption charges.

On this remark, Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday said it seems that everyone except the pilgrims were guilty in this matter.

“Was the government blind not to see the mismanagement of the Hajj event?” Ramday asked

Justice Javed Iqbal added that he hadn’t seen corruption like this in his 28 years of professional life.

Opinion

Editorial

Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
Updated 02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

It must be stressed that to pull in maximum foreign investment, a climate of domestic political stability is crucial.
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...
Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.