KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Court directed parties to complete arguments and submit their reply/ rejoinders in a case filed against Babar Khan Ghori, former Minister for Port and Shipping, Muhammad Javed Hanif, Rauf Akhtar Farooq, former chairmen of KPT and others for charges of corruption, corrupt practices and abuse of authority for illegally appointing 940 employees in KPT.
On October 28, 2019, Muhammad Javed Hanif, Rauf Akhtar Farooq, former chairmen of KPT and other arrested accused have been produced before the court, during the hearing, investigation officer submits that proclamation process is under process against Babar Khan Ghouri and final report would be produced before the court when it is completed. After the hearing, court adjourned the matter for November 11, 2019.
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 (then MQM’s) Babar Ghauri, 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.