KARACHI – The federal anti-corruption court has acquitted Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani in a long-standing corruption case related to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). The case, originally filed in 2009, accused the former prime minister and several TDAP officials of misusing trade subsidies by approving fraudulent claims for fake companies.

Speaking to the media after the verdict, Gilani stated that all key witnesses had fled the country. He emphasized that the case was politically motivated but held no grudges against the current government.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had implicated Gilani in approximately 25 out of over 70 cases linked to the trade subsidy scandal. He was formally indicted in 2018, along with 25 others.

Following his acquittal, Gilani reaffirmed his support for the government, stating that he would stand by it. He also mentioned that President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would jointly present their stance on the matter.