RAWALPINDI, June 29: A special court of Rawalpindii on Friday made the forensic evidence, produced by the federal investigation agency (FIA) in Hajj corruption case, part of its record.

According to prosecution, the forensic evidence has exposed the linkages between the accused persons of the scam.

FIA special prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali produced the forensic record that was retrieved from the laptop of Raja Aftabul Islam, joint secretary ministry of religious affairs before special judge central Khalid Shabbir.

The record also included the photographs of Raja Aftab with the other accused, former director general Haj Rao Shakeel and building supervisor Ahmed Faiz, the alleged front man who has been declared proclaimed offender by the court.

It may be pertinent to mention that earlier, Raja and Rao Shakeed had denied links with Ahmed Faiz.

Prosecution told the court that Raja Aftab, Rao Shakeel and Ahmed Faiz were close friends as the level their intimacy and closeness could be seen be seen in the photographs.

He said the photographs also denied the claims of Raja Aftab and Rao Shakeel that Ahmed Faiz was unknown to them.

FIA forensic expert Ali Imran also recorded his statement before the judge. He said the laptop was recovered from the residence of Raja Aftab.

He said the photographs of Ahmed Faiz with the accused persons have been deleted from the laptop but during the forensic test, the deleted items have been retraced.

The court summons six prosecution witnesses for July 6 and adjourned the hearing.

During the hearing, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Raja Aftab and Rao Shakeel were present in the court.

Aftab Raja and Rao Shakeel have been indicted in the case under 109, 409, 420, 468, 471 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and 5 (2) 1947 of Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) for fraud, cheating, misuse of authority, and causing loss to the national exchequer and the public at large.

They were accused of hiring 87 substandard buildings in Makkah at faraway locations on higher rents and of receiving kickbacks and commission through their middleman Ahmed Faiz during 2010 Haj arrangements.

Opinion

Editorial

Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....
Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...