Daily Times

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday arrested former Karachi Port Trust (KPT) chairman Javed Hanif in an ongoing inquiry.

Hanif, who is also contesting July 25 general elections from a Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) ticket from PS-95, Karachi, was arrested from his residence.

According to the anti-corruption watchdog, the former chairman is accused of misusing power and illegal appointments, causing a loss amounting to Rs 2.80 billion to the national kitty.

According to a NAB official, the former chairman appointed 940 employees in his tenure in connivance with the then federal shipping and ports minister, Babar Ghauri.

Moreover, according to NAB, a number of those recruited were allegedly associated with terrorism.

Meanwhile, the MQM-P strongly condemned the arrest of its party leader.

“Javed Hanif’s only crime is providing jobs to Karachi’s youth,” MQM-P convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said in a press conference that was called to welcome Pak Sarzameen Party members who returned to MQM-P.

Siddiqui said arrest of Hanif, who is contesting upcoming general election from PS-95 Korangi, was an attempt to influence election and requested the army chief to take notice of the action.

Responding to presser, the NAB denied allegations, saying arrest was not politically motivated. The NAB spokesperson said that an inquiry against Hanif was initiated three years ago when he was not associated with any political party.

The NAB also gave a list of four people appointed by former chairman, allegedly in connivance with Babar Ghauri, who had serious offences registered against them.

Published in Daily Times, July 4^th 2018.