RAWALPINDI: A court on Friday rejected the acquittal plea of former minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi in the Haj corruption case, DawnNews reported.

The plea was rejected by Special Judge Central (FIA) Khalid Shabbir and the former minister is expected to be indicted in the case on May 30.

The court said that the allegations against Kazmi were of a serious nature and that his acquittal plea was premature.

The court further said that no indictments had taken place in the case and no statements of witnesses had been recorded.

The court adjourned the hearing until May 30 and said that the accused would be indicted on that date.

Summons were also issued for government witnesses for the upcoming hearing.

Kazmi is accused of corruption in arranging residential accommodation for Pakistani Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia in 2010.