Haj corruption case: MNA backtracks on allegations against Qadir Gilani
Abdul Qadir Gilani, son of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. — File photo
ISLAMABAD, July 15: Pirzada Syed Imran Ahmed Shah, a PML-N member of the National Assembly from Sahiwal, has backtracked on allegations he had levelled against Abdul Qadir Gilani, son of former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani, in the Haj corruption case.
In a statement recorded with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Dec 22, 2010, Mr Shah had accused Mr Qadir Gilani of receiving a luxury bullet-proof Land Cruiser from the former director general Haj, Rao Shakeel Ahmed, the principal accused in the scam. However, after about one-and-a-half years the MNA changed the stance and accused the FIA of cooking the story in order to trap him.
The MNA had also said that Zain Iftikhar Sukhera, a close friend of Mr Qadir Gilani, went to Saudi Arabia on July 18, 2010, and met Rao Shakeel and received the vehicle.
The vehicle was “reportedly smuggled through Karachi port and was secretly offloaded from a truck at Sahiwal”. In return, Mr Sukhera was awarded contracts of toll plazas and road construction by the National Highways Authority, Mr Shah had said in his statement
In a supplementary statement recorded on Dec 29, 2010, Mr Shah claimed that Rao Shakeel, a retired army officer, was a class fellow of the former prime minister.
Mr Qadir Gilani, in his statement, denied the allegations and contended that he had imported the vehicle in accordance with rules.
The allegations, he said, had been levelled because of political rivalry and to tarnish his image.
In his statement, Mr Sukhera also denied the allegations, saying these had been levelled because of political enmity. He, however, admitted that he had met Rao Shakeel in Saudi Arabia.
When the Supreme Court found that the MNA or the investigation agency did not have sufficient evidence against Mr Qadir Gilani, it directed the FIA to proceed against Mr Shah. The FIA filed a complaint against Mr Shah accordingly and the proceedings against him, which started on March 3 last year, are pending in the court of senior civil judge, Islamabad.
The FIA’s complaint says that Mr Shah had levelled false allegations against Mr Qadir Gilani and Mr Sukhera and recorded a false statement before the Supreme Court and investigation officers. The FIA requested the judge to proceed against Mr Shah in accordance with law.
The hearing of the case was fixed for several times, but the affected party and witnesses did not appear before the court.
Finally, Mr Shah requested the court for his acquittal. The court took up his application on June 1, but witnesses did not appear before it.
Sources in the FIA claimed that witnesses — Mr Qadir Gilani and Mr Sukhera — were not pursuing the case because they had reportedly reached a settlement with the PML-N legislator and as a result of that Mr Shah had changed his earlier stance.
They said the government had also removed investigation officers of the Haj scam in order to facilitate the settlement.
Chaudhry Abdul Aziz, counsel for Mr Shah, told Dawn that his client had never put his signatures on any statement accusing Mr Qadir Gilani of receiving the Land Cruiser from Rao Shakeel. He said on the basis of a report of the NA standing committee Mr Shah had only pointed out that a bullet-proof vehicle had been offloaded and suggested the FIA should investigate the matter.
Chaudhry Aziz said his client did not need any settlement for his acquittal, adding the prosecution had no documentary proof against the MNA and the allegations against him were baseless.
The bottom line is go after the money trail and you will find the person behind the scandal. Not to difficult but I can see a cover up in this case by PPP.
PTI is stuffed with ex PPP and PML-N persons hence it is also the same
Second, have elections where all nominated are individuals/people with good track records. Any individual/person running for any office must be first looked into by the court to determine if the individual has a clean record and then allowed to run for a position within any branch of government. If any individuals have any allegations against them. it must be cleared by the court indicating if they are allegations or true.
The only two (Jinnah and Liaquat Ali khan ) left us before we had a chance to understand politics. It is time to get us an army man (honest), a Chief Justice (honest), and start from scratch. The Present Chief Justice is looking out for himself and is running his own agenda and, like the former, gutless. The Man who takes charge should first rid the country of Fuedal Landlords like the Indians did at the time of partition
There is only one way to deal with Pakistan. First remember, that there is a saying that the people of a country determine the type of government they want. We as a country are not ready for any form of government as we have never had a chance to determine which form of government we want. The reason being at the time of partition, all experienced polititions remained in India.
Pakistanis are corrupt so when you see politicians or army officer involve in corruption, it shouldn't surprise anyone. Move your religion aside and bring some man made laws if you really want to move in the right direction. Ban all the madrisa and religions parties.
Its seems that it is a Noora Kushti betweeb PPP and PML (N). Really 3rd class politician
PMN-N and PPP are one and same. They are having noora kushti.
shame on behalf of all of us
These are all corrupt and collibirate to save each other and we all as we will vote them again. I wish that the we choose Imran this time but there is not much hope as we all are part of a cporrupt society and decision is same too.
Pml-N and PPP are 2 sides of the SAME coin
Well said. The acts of an individual are not a reflection of an Institution. Pakistan Army is a well disciplined and a very professional organisation. Gen Kayani has rebuild the moral of the troops and respect of the Inquisition destroyed in Musharraf era.
Rao shakeel Ahmad an ex-army officer-what a shame that he has disgraced the army. These people use the army as a conduit to positions of mega corruption. We need just one honest person, just one-and I only see Imran khan-I dont care if he has no experience-we dont want experience -just one honest man because honest men bring honest ministers with them.
I pray to Almighty Allah to give us pakistani's a chance to have one leader elected who is honest. I am not supporter or member of any party ,just a pakistani crying for his country.
I do understand your, infact our, frustration and pain to get rid of all corrupted polticians, miltary men and buarcrates. But I am afriad there is no short cut remedy, the situation will be worst if we pin our hopes with one individual and if he fails.
Look at your options my friend. Do you think you have an alternate other than Imran Khan ? PPP and PMLN are exposed many times and only a fool can trust on these parties again. We must support Imran Khan in upcoming elections.
Pinning hopes on a single individual is negation of democracy and a hangover of the frequent autocratic martial law regimes we have had.
The solution lies with each and every individual, the voter, and not on any single politician. This will take time and needs patience for the system to develop and for the voters to understand the great significance of their vote.
Each of us needs to bring change at his/her level and stop fantasizing about one magic individual who will use the magic wand to change Pakistan overnight.
I would have supported Imran, but as soon as he started associating with JI, DFC and other jihadi militant parties, I saw it as a red flag. These militant Jihadi parties only goal is to seize power and take the country back to medieval age (as if it is not there already). Talibans would seem like moderates compared to these parties.
well said! I agree.