ISLAMABAD, March 16: Former religious affairs minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi was given in the custody of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on five days' physical remand here on Wednesday.

The handcuffed minister was produced in the court at around 1:15pm for seeking his physical remand in connection with the Haj corruption case.

Sources in the FIA said the remand was sought to investigate the accused about his assets and alleged corruption in hiring accommodation for Pakistani Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia which caused a Rs200 million loss to the national exchequer.

Besides, the former minister also provided wrong details about his bank balance and property in Multan, the sources said, adding Mr Kazmi claimed that landed property he owned in Multan had been gifted to him by his devotees.

Talking to the media outside the courtroom, Mr Kazmi said the trial court (Lahore High Court's Rawalpindi bench) had denied him bail on the allegation levelled by former minister Azam Khan Swati which was yet to be proved. —Staff Reporter