Federal Anti-Corruption Court Acquits Former PM Yousaf Raza Gilani in Mega Corruption Case

Karachi:The Federal Anti-Corruption Court in Karachi has acquitted former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in nine cases related to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) mega corruption scandal. Gilani, along with other co-accused, appeared in court where the judge announced the decision, acquitting him of all charges in these nine cases.
Previously, Gilani had been cleared of three other cases, bringing the total number of cases he has been acquitted from to twelve.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had filed a total of 26 cases in the TDAP corruption probe, which began in 2009. The agency initiated investigations, and by 2013, the cases were formally registered. Gilani was named as a defendant in the final charge sheet filed in 2015.
The accused were alleged to have committed corruption worth approximately **7 billion rupees** by creating fake companies to claim freight subsidies.
After the hearing, Gilani spoke to the media, clarifying that the decision on whether the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) would join the government had already been made by the party’s **Central Executive Committee (CEC)**. He also responded to a question about the government’s policies on sugar exports, stating, “At the moment, we are not part of the government, nor am I a spokesperson for the government.”
Gilani’s acquittal comes at a critical time in Pakistan’s political landscape, with the former Prime Minister’s political future possibly being impacted by the ongoing cases and the ruling party’s approach toward accountability. However, there are still several cases pending against him, and the final outcome is yet to be determined.
The political ramifications of this development are expected to unfold in the coming months, especially as Pakistan heads into a crucial election period.