The Anti-Corruption Court on Friday acquitted Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani in three high-profile corruption cases, including one linked to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). The decision came after years of legal proceedings surrounding allegations of financial mismanagement and misuse of authority.
Gilani personally appeared before the Federal Anti-Corruption Court, where his legal counsel, senior lawyer Farooq H. Naek, presented arguments in his defense. Naek contended that the charges against his client were politically motivated and lacked substantive evidence. After carefully reviewing the case records, the court found no proof of wrongdoing and declared Gilani innocent, clearing him of all corruption-related accusations.
The Senate chairman had been accused of playing a role in a fraudulent freight subsidy scheme, which allegedly caused a financial loss exceeding Rs6 billion to the national exchequer. Prosecutors claimed that under his tenure, subsidies meant for exporters were misappropriated, leading to massive corruption. However, the court’s ruling dismissed these claims, citing insufficient evidence.
Reacting to the verdict, Gilani expressed relief and reiterated his longstanding position that the allegations against him were baseless. He pointed out that the individual who had testified against him is now facing legal troubles of his own, further questioning the credibility of the prosecution’s case.
The TDAP corruption scandal, which surfaced in 2013, was one of the largest financial scandals in Pakistan’s history. Authorities alleged that billions of rupees had been embezzled through fraudulent subsidy claims, prompting the registration of over 70 corruption cases against multiple companies and individuals. The late Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim was also implicated in the case, alongside other high-ranking officials.
During the initial stages of the investigation, the court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants for both Gilani and Fahim in 2015, heightening political tensions at the time. The case dragged on for years, with frequent hearings and legal arguments before finally culminating in Gilani’s acquittal.
Legal experts believe the court’s decision sets a precedent for other high-profile corruption cases in the country. Meanwhile, Gilani’s supporters hailed the verdict as a victory for justice, while his political opponents have yet to respond to the ruling.
