KARACHI: A court in Rawalpindi on Monday granted bail to former Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi, who was arrested last year for his alleged involvement in the Haj corruption scam, DawnNews reported.

The court ordered that Kazmi be immediately released after granting him bail against two surety bonds of Rs 100,000 each. Kazmi had submitted his request for bail on Aug 10, 2012.

Two years ago, the former religious affair minister was slapped with allegations of involvement in the Haj corruption scandal, and inflicting huge losses to the national coffers. After which a case was registered leading to Kazmi’s arrest on March 15, 2011.

Kazmi was subsequently indicted on charges of corruption in the case on May 30, 2012, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The former minister, speaking to media representatives following his release from jail today, reiterated that he was innocent, and expressed the hope that justice would be served.