ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday rejected the bail plea of former federal minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi, a convict in the Haj corruption case.

Dismissing the application as devoid of merit, IHC Chief Justice Mohammad Anwar Khan Kasi wrote: “No illegality could be observed at this stage on the surface of the impugned judgment (of conviction of Kazmi).”

On June 3, Judge Malik Nazir Ahmad of the special court (central) awarded Mr Kazmi six years’ imprisonment each on two counts, along with former director general Haj Rao Shakeel and former joint secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs Aftabul Islam Raja. The judge also fined the convicts Rs147.4 million each.

On June 3, Judge Malik Nazir Ahmad of the special court (central) had awarded Mr Kazmi six years’ imprisonment each on two counts

Justice Kasi stated in the order: “Moreover, appeal has been filed recently and applicant has not yet undergone substantive portion of the sentence. In view of the above, application being devoid of merit is dismissed.”

On June 29, the IHC had reserved the verdict on Mr Kazmi’s application, seeking release before Eid.

The court, however, adjourned hearing on the appeal of Mr Kazmi filed against the conviction in the Haj corruption case till a date to be fixed by the registrar office.

During the course of argument, Sardar Latif Khan Khosa adopted that his client (Mr Kazmi) had already spent two years and four months in jail.

The lawyer requested the court to release him on bail till the final disposal of the appeal filed against the June 3 decision of the special judge. He also gave an undertaking that the former minister would serve the remaining period if the conviction was not set aside.

Mr Khosa claimed that the former minister had no role in obtaining buildings on rent for the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and there was no allegation of receiving commission or kickbacks against him. He claimed that the Saudi government returned SR6.65 million to the pilgrims as a result of efforts made by Mr Kazmi.

Countering the arguments, the FIA prosecutor, Azhar Chaudhry, said Mr Kazmi had gone to Saudi Arabia for reviewing the arrangements made for the pilgrims. He said the former minister was accused of approving under-construction buildings for the pilgrims that lacked facilities such as washrooms in connivance with his ‘front-man’ Ahmed Faiz,.

Chaudhry also submitted photos of Mr Kazmi meeting Ahmed Faiz in Saudi Arabia. He said the suspects caused a loss of Rs1.0888 billion to the treasury, adding the Saudi government returned Rs5,000 to each pilgrim after the Supreme Court took notice of the case, adding Mr Kazmi had no role in it.

Though the co-accused in the Haj corruption case, Rao Shakeel and Aftabul Islam Raja, had also filed bail applications, their counsel did not argue them.

The IHC would take up the petitions on a date to be fixed by the registrar office.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2016