Charges framed against accused in KPT graft case

KARACHI: An accountability court on Saturday framed charges against accused MQM leaders in a corruption case of around Rs three billion in Karachi Port Trust (KPT).

Former federal minister Babar Ghauri and eight other accused have been nominated in the National Accountability Bureau corruption reference.

Member Sindh Assembly Javed Hanif, Rauf Akhtar Farooqui and other accused were present in the court during the hearing.

The accused denied the NAB charge-sheet against them.

The accountability judge summoned the prosecution witnesses in the next hearing of the case and adjourned the hearing till November 19.

Corruption Reference

Babar Ghauri facing charges of massive corruption when he was federal minister for Ports and Shipping between 2008 and 2013.

The court decided to separate the reference against absconding accused Babar Ghauri.

The accused are facing charges of making 940 illegal appointments in the KPT in 2012.

On Sep 15, the court while approving a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against former minister ports and shipping Babar Ghauri and other accused in the case.

According to the reference filed by the anti-graft watchdog, Javed Hanif in his capacity as the then KPT chairman misused his official authority and made illegal appointments of 940 employees in the KPT with the connivance of Babar Ghauri.

NAB claims that the appointments were made in violation of KPT law, rules and regulations and resulted in loss to national exchequer to the tune of Rs 2.8 billion.

NAB had earlier, arrested Muhammad Javed Hanif in the case on July 3.