In a move desperately awaited by the victims in particular and the public in general, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani dismissed two federal ministers: Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Minister for Religious Affairs, and Azam Khan Swati, Minister for Science & Technology over Hajj corruption scandal. Hamid Saeed Kazmi is a PPP MNA while Azam Swati is from the JUI-F.Minister for Labour & Manpower Khursheed Shah has been appointed as Minister for Religious Affairs, while Federal Education Minister Sardar Assef is given the portfolio of Minister for Science &Technology. Also, Health Minister Makhdoom Shahabuddin is given the charges of defence production. Secretary Religious Affairs Agha Sarwar Qizalbash has also been replaced by Secretary for overseas Pakistanis Saeed Khan. Qizalabsh has been ordered to report back to the Establishment Division. Hamid Saeed Kazimi and Azam Swati were entangled in a court battle and stand off over corruption charges in Hajj operation.It should be mentioned here that Federal Minister for Science and Technology Azam Khan Swati leveled allegations regarding serious corruption against Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi in alleged corruption in hajj arrangements.It is pertinent to mention here that there are no allegations of corruption against Azam Swati; however, he was sacked from his ministry for overlooking the directives from the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, who directed the two to avoid giving statements.Moreover, the accounts of former Religious Affairs Minister Hamid Saeed Kazmi, were frozen and his name was added to the Exit control list, following his dismissal from the federal cabinet.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.
