ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Special Judge Central Court in Islamabad on Friday awarded 16-year imprisonment to former Minister of Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi in Hajj Corruption Case.
The sentence was announced by Special Judge Central Malik Nazir Ahmad in the case which involved Saeed Kazmi as one of accused who were under trial for allegations of embezzlement and corruption during hajj arrangements in 2010.
The Court also awarded former Director General Hajj Rao Shakeel and former Additional Secretary of the Religious Ministry Aftab Ahmed 40 and 16 years imprisonment respectively.
However, all three convicts have the right to appeal the decision in Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Rao Shakeel is already in custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Lahore whereas Hamid Saeed Kazmi and Aftab Ahmed were taken into custody from the court premises after the sentence was pronounced today.