Court hears KPT corruption reference against Babar Ghauri, others

KARACHI: An accountability court on Monday heard Karachi Port Trust (KPT) corruption reference against accused MQM leaders Babar Ghauri, Javed Hanif and others.

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

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

The NAB prosecutor informed the court that the bureau has initiated proceedings to declare Babar Ghauri and two other accused as proclaimed offenders. .

The NAB counsel informed the court that advertisements have been published in newspapers against the absconders and information being collected about the properties of the accused.

The judge after the NAB lawyer’s statement adjourned the hearing till January 07.

Corruption Reference

Babar Ghauri and others facing charges of massive corruption of around Rs three billion in Karachi Port Trust (KPT), when he was federal minister for Ports and Shipping between 2008 and 2013.

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 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.

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