LAHORE, Sept 23: PPP secretary-general Jahangir Badar on Monday challenged the appointment of a new prosecutor in a corruption reference against him before an accountability court.

The National Accountability Bureau has been issued a notice on Badar’s application for Sept 28.

The court was informed that NAB deputy prosecutor general Javed Shaukat Malik had withdrawn his services to plead the reference due to his professional engagements, and now it would be pleaded by Asad Manzoor Butt on behalf of the NAB.

Badar raised the objection that the NAB could not appoint a new prosecutor in a reference during its hearing before the court. He pleaded that the NAB should have given reasonable grounds for the change of prosecutor since the reason given by its counsel earlier was not acceptable under the law. He asked the court to inquire from the NAB under what authority had it changed the prosecutor without any reasonable ground.

The NAB will submit its version on the next hearing. Three prosecution witnesses have deposed against the accused in this reference.

In the reference, Badar has been accused of issuing directions to managing directors of the Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited, the Sui Southern Gas Company, the Oil and Gas Development Corporation and the Pakistan State Oil as federal minister for the recruitment of 99, 74, 9 and 23 persons, respectively, in violation of rules.

The reference further accuses him of asking the PSO managing director for the installation of 61 petrol pumps in violation of rules. He also issued LPG licenses illegally to different persons. He has also been accused of having issued orders to the authorities concerned for enlisting 97 home pipeline contractors in SNGPL illegally. Lastly, he has been alleged to have failed in exercising his authority as minister in stopping the grant of undue benefit of Rs8 million in favour of Messrs Amin Brothers.