Pakistani Court Sentences Last of Hajj Corruption Defendants

In Pakistan yesterday, a special court sentenced the last of 4 defendants in the 2010 Hajj corruption case to 30 years in prison and a fine equivalent to $386,000(US).  AAJ-TV reports that defendant Ahmad Faiz was charged with being the front man for the Religious Affairs Director General.  Defendants were charged with massive corruption in the arrangements for Pakistani Hajj pilgrims. (See prior posting.)  Last year, 3 other defendants in the case were sentenced. The former federal minister for religious affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi and the additional secretary Aftab Ahmed were sentenced to 16 years in prison, while Director General for Hajj Affairs Rao Shakeel was sentenced to 40 years. (Express Tribune, June 3, 2016).