KARACHI: The administrative judge of accountability courts granted on Friday time till August 8 to an investigating officer to file a reference against Karachi Port Trust’s detained former chairman Javed Hanif and others in a case pertaining to alleged corruption through illegal appointments in the KPT.

Javed Hanif, a leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan from PS-95 Korangi constituency, was detained by the NAB officials on July 4 and remanded in NAB custody on the charges of his involvement in alleged corruption through illegal appointments with the connivance of Babar Ghauri, the then federal minister for ports and shipping belonging to the MQM.

On the last date, administrative judge Dr Sher Bano Karim had directed the NAB IO to file such reference till July 27 (yesterday).

However, when the matter was taken up on Friday, the NAB IO informed that a summary was already sent to the NAB chairman for approval to file a reference against the detained suspect, but a reply in this regard was still awaited. However, he added that the investigation was still not completed, as the absconding co-accused Babar Ghauri was also yet to be arrested. Therefore, he pleaded for time to enable him to file the reference against them.

The federal anti-graft watchdog alleged that 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.

It further alleged that massive appointments were made without advertisement in the media, as required under the law, adding that many people involved in criminal activities were appointed. It claimed that losses worth Rs2 billion were caused to the national exchequer.

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2018