ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency issued a notice on Monday to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s son, Abdul Qadir Gilani, asking him to record his statement before an FIA team investigating the Haj scam.After the issuance of the notice, the head of the investigation team and FIA Director, Hussain Asghar, has been removed from the panel.

It is believed that the investigation is being diverted to protect the prime minister’s son.

Sources in FIA said that Abdul Qadir Gilani had been asked to record his statement in the Haj scandal, but he failed to appear, resulting in the issuance of his summons.

In accordance with directives of the Supreme Court, the FIA had called Abdul Qadir Gilani to ascertain from where he had got money for his bullet-proof jeep. The vehicle has been reportedly imported from Dubai recently. Its price is said to be more than Rs15 million.

The sources said that Mr Qadir Gilani had been asked by the FIA to appear before the investigator on Monday, but he did not turn up. Therefore, a summon was issued, formally asking him to appear and clear his position.

It has been learnt that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has taken exception to the FIA move, leading to dropping of the FIA director from the inquiry team.

FIA Director General, Waseem Ahmed, said Mr Qadir Gilani had not been summoned. Only a letter had been sent to him in line with a requirement of the Supreme Court to ascertain from which source the Land Cruiser had been purchased.

“He was not directly involved in the Haj scam, but during proceedings of the case this has come to surface that he has purchased such an expensive bullet-proof vehicle.”

The FIA chief said Mr Qadir Gilani sent a brief reply, saying he had purchased the vehicle in 2009.

The removal of FIA investigation team’s head has raised many questions as he has been excluded from the investigation following a letter sent to the Prime Minister Gilani’s son.

Mr Asghar, being the head of the investigation team, had also ordered a raid at the residence of the former federal minister for religious affairs, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, in Islamabad recently.

The prime minister’s son has been accused of receiving Rs20 million from a former director-general of Haj, Rao Shakil Ahmad, and importing the vehicle least year.

The FIA also issued a notice to Zain Sukhara, an adviser to the religious affairs ministry. He is reportedly a friend of the prime minister’s son and was appointed in violation of laws.