Federal Minister for Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati, - who has already accused the Religious Affairs Minister of involvement in the scam, secretaries of the concerned ministries (science and technology and religious affairs) chairman NAB, former DG Hajj Rao Shakeel, secretary establishment and secretary interior were also issued notices to appear before the bench.
A five-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar comprising Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Raja Fayaz, Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Khalil-ur-Rahman Ramday will hear the case. In an order issued by Supreme Court, Justice Chaudhry noted that on receipt of letter from Prince Bandar bin Khalid, comments were called from secretary religious affairs, which are available on record.
There is material available on record to prima facie hold that pilgrims had been deprived of their fundamental rights enshrined under Articles 9, 14 and 25 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the order added. The court has clubbed all the applications and complaints and turned these into petition under it suo motu jurisdiction under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution.
A letter by a Saudi prince to chief justice of Pakistan, accusations by some federal ministers and members of National Assembly including media reports forced the chief justice to take a sou moto notice of irregularities and massive corruption in the Hajj arrangements.
Three members of National Assembly including two senators had requested the chief justice to take suo motu notice of rampant corruption in Haj arrangements, including the letter of Saudi prince and a large number of applications sent by the aggrieved Hajis were made basis for suo motu notice.
The apex court has directed Religious Affairs Minster Hamid Saeed Kazmi to submit his reply over the charges of corruption levelled against him, while Azam Swati was asked to furnish evidence to prove allegations, levelled against his fellow minister.
The order further directed Chairman NAB to submit a report whether any case under the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 was pending or any other inquiry or trial before any court of law with progress report against Rao Shakeel Ahmed, former DG Hajj.
Secretary Establishment was directed to appear before the court and produce summary of the appointment of Rao Shakeel Ahmed with details showing if there was any case pending against him. He was asked to submit a report regarding Rao Shakeel's name on the Exist Control List (ECL). In such case, he was directed to explain why his name was removed from the list enabling him to travel abroad.
A notice was also issued to members of NA body on religious affairs, who compiled the relevant report of massive corruption in Haj affairs. They were given an option to appear before the court in support of their report. Hajj tour operators were also put on notice, directing them to submit their replies on the above allegations and submit whether they facilitated/accommodated the Hajis according to the contract.
The Director General of Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) was directed to appear in person and produce Rao Shakeel Ahmed, in safe custody along with a comprehensive report on the case. Shakeel was free to file reply to above allegations of corruption if he desired so. The Secretary Religious Affairs was ordered to file record showing composition of the committee, which was responsible to hire buildings in Makkah during Hajj in November, 2010 with their status as government servants.