Special Court Central Judge Malik Nazir Ahmad, handed 40 years jail term to Director General (DG) Hajj Rao Shakeel. Former additional secretary for religious affairs Aftab Ahamad was also awarded to 16 years sentence.
Two convicts Hamid Saeed and Aftab were arrested from the court premises after the court announced sentence and sent to Adiala Jail by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials, while Rao Shakeel is already in custody of the National Accountability Bureau.
The Hajj scandal was emerged after the Supreme Court had took suo motu notice of the corruption and plight of the Hajj pilgrims in year 2010.
The convicts can appeal against the court decision in Islamabad High Court.
The Haj corruption scandal rocked the country between 2010 and 2012, and led to the departure of both Hamid Saeed Kazmi and Azam Swati from the federal cabinet.
Kazmi also spent nearly two years in prison over charges of irregularities in the 2009 Haj operation.
