- Judge says no prosecutor proven against Gilani.
- Senate chairman Gilani does not say afraid of prison.
- 40 others also accused by the court.
Karachi: Federal Anti-Corruption Court has acquitted Senate’s chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani in three cases in connection with the Trade Development Authority in Pakistan (TDAP) corruption scandal.
The hearing took place in the federal court against corruption in Karachi, where Gilani appeared to the judge personally.
During the procedure, the referee approached Gilani and said that a judgment had been placed in three cases against him. Gilani answered the affirmative and recognized the decision.
At one point, court asked Gilani what prison he would prefer – Karachi, Multan or Islamabad. In response, the chairman of the Senate said he had no fear of imprisonment and added, “Prison is nothing new to us. If you wish, you can even judge me to death.” His remarks got a smile from the presidential judge.
The court also asked why he did not prefer house arrest, as Gilani replied that his ancestral home was in Multan, his family was a resident of Lahore, and his Senate Office was in Islamabad.
When the judge pointed out that the trial was carried out in Karachi, Gilani noted: “Then people will say that my party has a government in Sindh.”
The court announced the verdict that the court declared that no charges had been proven against Gilani, giving him an honorable acquittal.
The judge also noted that those who had witnessed against him were now facing charges themselves.
Upon completion of the trial in three cases, the court acquitted Gilani and 40 other accused persons from the TDAP corruption case.
Former Prime Minister Gilani, along with several senior officials in TDAP and others, face charges of their alleged role in sanctioning and distributing false trade subsidies.
The case involved the payment of billions of rupees to fake companies through counterfeit claims and back -dated controls during the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government mandate period.
