KARACHI: The National Accountability Court re-issued non-bail able warrants against Babar Khan Ghouri, former minister for port and shipping and directed investigation officer to arrest him for next date of hearing in a case of charges of corruption, corrupt practices and abuse of authority for illegally appointing 940 employees in KPT.
On April 12, 2019, Javed Hanif, former chairman Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and others were produced before the court, investigation officer told the court that Babar Khan Ghouri is missing and still was not arrested, counsel for one suspect also was absent, therefore, court issued non-bail able warrants against absconders including Babar Khan Ghouri and adjourned the matter for today.
According to the NAB officials suspects are involved in charges of corruption, corrupt practices and abuse of authority for illegally appointing 940 employees in KPT in connivance with [the MQM’s] Babar Ghouri, the then minister for ports and shipping, he further argued that the appointments were made in violation of KPT law, rules and regulations “without advertisement of vacancies, competitive process, age criteria, medical examination of appointees and in violation of basic formalities”.
A large number of those appointed had a criminal record in serious cases such as “terrorism, premeditated murder and robbery” and that the illegal appointments resulted in losses to the national exchequer to the tune of Rs2.8 billion, NAB said.