Yousaf Raza Gillani acquitted in all TDAP corruption cases

(Web Desk): The Federal Anti-Corruption Court in Karachi has acquitted Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gillani of all charges in the multi-billion Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) corruption cases.

Hearings for the TDAP cases were held at the Federal Anti-Corruption Court in Karachi, during which Senate Chairman Gillani appeared before the court. The court acquitted him in 14 remaining cases, along with all other co-accused.

The court noted that it had individually heard each case, including those transferred from the High Court, and rendered a verdict after due process.

Speaking to the media after the hearing, senior lawyer Farooq H. Naek—accompanying Yousaf Raza Gillani—said that 26 cases had been filed in 2013 and 2014, all with similar allegations: receiving Rs5 million in subsidies through TDAP. He added that the FIA had launched the cases based on the claim of one individual, and despite Gillani being on bail in 10 of the cases, the agency declared him an absconder.

Farooq H. Naek emphasized that the court had acquitted Gillani in all cases and said, “The cases were false, and the court has delivered justice—we are grateful to the honorable judge.”

Yousaf Raza Gillani stated, “False cases were made against me. Farooq H. Naek fought the case excellently. I thank God that today I’ve been honorably acquitted from all charges.”

He added, “Those who filed these cases are now my allies—I can’t abandon them. There should be legislation that if a verdict is not reached, the case should be dismissed.”

To recall, the FIA had registered 26 cases against Gillani in the TDAP mega corruption scandal. He had previously been acquitted in 12 cases, and today’s verdict cleared him of the remaining 14 cases.

Investigations into the TDAP scandal began in 2009, with formal case registrations starting in 2013. Yousaf Raza Gillani was named as an accused in the final charge sheet in 2015.