A four-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing a case regarding corruption in Haj arrangements.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) told the court that former Director of Haj Rao Shakil had made 200 million rupees from Haj operations. An FIA official told the court: "A major share of this money went to one Zain Sukhera, a close friend of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's son Qadir Gilani."

Chaudhry asked the prosecution to produce Sukhera before the Court, but the court was informed that this was not possible as Sukhera was abroad.

Officials told Arab News that Sukhera is one of the front men of Qadir Gilani and had traveled to Saudi Arabia 21 times before Haj last year. He had rented buildings for pilgrims that were not suitable and charged extra money.

Chaudhry directed the FIA to ascertain views of other parties and produce Sukhera before the court on Jan. 11 when the court meets again after adjournment.

Imran Shah, member of a parliamentary committee investigating the scam, alleged that Rao Shakil was given the job of director Haj even though he faced graft charges. He was appointed by Premier Gilani at the recommendation of Sukhera.

Sources told Arab News that despite Qadir Gilani's name coming up during investigations, the FIA did not care to probe him.

Former federal minister Azam Swati called the FIA report unsatisfactory. Swati’s lawyer said in his statement that Interior Minister Rehman Malik through a text message got the name of Rao Shakeel omitted from the exit control list.

Swati, a member of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, was sacked after he brought the Haj scam to court. Speaking to journalists outside the Supreme Court building, he labeled Yousaf Raza Gilani as the most corrupt prime minister in Pakistan’s history. "Zain Sukhera was involved in corruption worth billions in the Ministry of Information Technology. He had no business to run Haj operations, but was deputed by the prime minister,” Swati added.