The JUI-F chief has also rescinded its support for the reformed GST bill. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:?The Jamiat-e-ulema-Islam-Fazlur Rehman (JUI-F) broke away from the coalition government over the sacking of Minister for Science and Technology Azam Swati on Tuesday.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman also declared that the JUI-F will?oppose the Reformed General Sales Tax (RGST) bill in the parliamemt.
FIA proposes to freeze Kazmi’s accounts
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) proposed to freeze the accounts of former Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi and to add his name to the Exit control list, following his dismissal from the federal cabinet on Tuesday.
The Federal Investigation Agency also blocked the bank accounts of former Religious Affairs Secretary Agha Sarwar Raza Qazalbash.
Earlier, an?FIA team left for Saudi Arabia to investigate Hajj Scandal.
Speaking to the media after receiving news of his dismissal, Kazmi said he had received the dismissal news during his way to Lahore, and that he had been dismissed from the ministry over violating cabinet discipline. “There is a lobby against me that wants to take over the ministry,” he said. “The same lobby wanted to force my resignation, but I stood firm against them.”
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Azam Swati and Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi were dismissed earlier today (Tuesday) in connection to the Hajj corruption case.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani issued the orders for the dismissal.
Hamid Saeed Kazmi is a PPP MNA while Azam Swati is from the JUI-F. Federal Minister for Education, Sardar Asseff Ahmed Ali has been given additional charge of the IT Ministry, while Minister for Labour and Manpower Khurshid Shah will be taking charge of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Federal Secretary of Religious Affairs Ministry Agha Sarwar Qazalbash has also been replaced.
Both ministers were recently embroiled in the Hajj irregularities fiasco, blaming each other for mismanagement and corruption in the case.
A Saudi prince had previously?written a letter claiming that Pakistani government officials had refused his offer of a cheaper place of accommodation, opting instead for a more expensive residential area. The Chief Justice had subsequently taken suo moto notice of the matter and issued notices to Federal Ministers Hamid Saeed Kazmi and Azam Swati.
During Monday’s hearing, the court had directed the counsel for Kazmi to inform the prime minister that the matter would not be investigated transparently if all the accused in the?Hajj corruption scandal continued to hold office.
Earlier, The Express Tribune had reported that President Asif Ali Zardari had?turned down a proposal from Prime Minister Gilani to sack Kazmi from the cabinet, saying that such a move would have an adverse impact on the Hajj corruption case.
This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured site: So, Why is Wikileaks a Good Thing Again?.
No comments:
Post a Comment