MQM-P’s PS-95 candidate arrested by NAB

Hanif was arrested on charges of illegal appointments in KPT

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan's (MQM-P) candidate from the PS-95 constituency of Karachi was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday for alleged illegal appointments.

Javed Hanif, former chairman Karachi Port Trust (KPT), was arrested from his residence and is wanted in an investigation against officers of KPT on the charges of corruption, corrupt practices and abuse of authority for illegally appointing 940 employees in KPT in connivance with the then minister of ports and shipping Babar Ghauri, according to the accountability watchdog.

The appointments were made in violation of KPT law, rules and regulations. The appointments were made without advertisement of vacancies, competitive process, age criteria, medical examination of appointees and in violation of basic formalities, added NAB.



A large number of appointees had a criminal record in heinous cases such as terrorism, premeditated murder and robbery. The illegal appointments resulted in a loss of Rs 2.8 billion to the national exchequer.

NAB will produce Hanif later today before an accountability court in Karachi to obtain his physical remand.

Faisal Subzwari while addressing the media alleged that loyalties were forcefully switched on the basis of coercion and threats.

"Javed Hanif has been arrested by NAB. He was giving jobs to the youth of Karachi," he added. "The arrest has been made as an attempt to manipulate election results."

Sabzwari further went on to request the army chief to take notice of this incident.

Earlier today, a MQM-P candidate for PS-107 was among 13 people nominated in the FIR registered against a rioting incident in Lyari on Sunday, which occurred as the convoy of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari entered the area.

Rafiq Hingoro, is one of the 13 suspects identified in the FIR, No. 183/18, registered under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act as well as sections 147, 148, 149, 268, 341,353 and 427 of the CrPC