Yousuf Raza Gilani, Chairman Senate, has been acquitted in cases of corruption in the TDAP. An anti-corruption court in Karachi acquitted Gilani in all remaining cases linked to the multibillion-rupee Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) scandal.
The hearing took place at the Federal Anti-Corruption Court, where Gilani appeared in person. The court dropped the final 14 cases pending against him, concluding a years-long legal saga. Gilani had previously been acquitted in 12 similar cases.
The allegations, dating back to Gilani’s tenure as prime minister from 2008 to 2012, accused him and others — including former TDAP chairman Tariq Iqbal Puri and ex-director general Abdul Karim Daudpota — of approving and disbursing billions of rupees in freight subsidies through fraudulent claims. Charges were formally framed in 2018 against Gilani and around 20 co-accused.
Outside the courtroom, Gilani dismissed the cases as “false and politically motivated,” thanking both the judiciary and his legal counsel, senior lawyer and former law minister Farooq H. Naek.
Yousuf Raza Gilani Acquitted in All TDAP Corruption Cases, thanks judiciary
“I thank God and the court for granting me justice,” Gilani said. “These cases were based on baseless allegations. Ironically, those who once initiated cases against me are now my allies. But there must be reform — if a case isn’t resolved in reasonable time, it should be closed.”
Naek told reporters that 26 identical cases were registered against Gilani between 2013 and 2014, accusing him of accepting Rs 500,000 in subsidies from the TDAP. “Despite being on bail in 10 of them, the FIA still labeled him an absconder. Today’s acquittal clears his name entirely,” he added. “Justice has prevailed.”
NAB recovers Rs 25 billion assets in Kohistan corruption scam
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has escalated the Kohistan corruption case from an inquiry to a full-scale investigation, uncovering one of the largest corruption scandals in recent years. In its latest crackdown, NAB recovered and froze assets worth over Rs25 billion.
The operation led to the arrest of contractor Muhammad Ayub, whose interrogation exposed suspicious financial links with powerful individuals. Authorities seized over Rs1 billion in cash, foreign currency, and three kilograms of gold during the operation.
As part of the investigation, NAB froze 73 bank accounts, resulting in the recovery of Rs5 billion. The bureau also confiscated 77 luxury vehicles—collectively valued at more than Rs940 million.
In a sweeping asset recovery effort, NAB seized numerous high-value properties, including:
- 30 residential houses
- 25 flats
- 12 commercial plazas
- 12 shops
- 4 farmhouses
- Several penthouses
- 175 kanals of agricultural land
These properties were located across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Abbottabad, and Mansehra, with an estimated value exceeding Rs17 billion.
The NAB investigation continues, with further arrests and asset freezes expected in the coming weeks as officials work to dismantle what they call a “deeply rooted network of corruption.”
