Islamabad: Pakistani authorities on Monday
froze three foreign currency accounts of former Religious
Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi in connection with a probe
into alleged corruption and mismanagement in hiring
accommodation for Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
The accounts at Multan in Punjab province were frozen
by the Federal Investigation Agency, TV news channels
reported.
The accounts are suspected to contain funds that were
embezzled in the Haj scam, the reports said.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani sacked Kazmi, a
parliamentarian of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party,
following allegations of his involvement in the scam.
Talking to Geo News channel, Kazmi confirmed that he
had several foreign currency accounts in banks in Multan.
Last week, the Supreme Court rejected the FIA’s report
on alleged irregularities in Haj arrangements, saying it was
"not transparent" and that influential people were involved in
the scandal.
PTI
First Published: Monday, January 24, 2011, 23:04