QUETTA: An accountability court here on Tuesday charged former chairman of Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC) Ashraf Magsi over violation of merit in appointments made by him as the chairman.

The court also charged two former deputy directors, Abdul Waheed and Niaz Muhammad Kakar, of the BPSC for endorsing illegal appointments by the ex-chairman.

The National Accountability Bureau had arrested Magsi last month from his residence on charges of misuse of powers and involvement in illegal recruitment, and later sent him to jail on judicial remand.

He was sacked by the governor who had received complaints against him in Nov 2014.

The accused were presented before the accountability court, where judge Abdul Majeed Nasar on Tuesday charged them over irregularities and illegal appointments. The accused pleaded not guilty.

The hearing was adjourned until June 21.

A NAB spokesperson earlier said that Magsi had been taken into custody after registration of a case against him in which he had been accused of misusing his authority as chairman of BPSC.

“Mr Magsi got his two daughters, who allegedly hold fake degrees, recruited in Grade 17 in government departments,” the spokesperson said, adding that he was also accused of getting his son recruited against the post of section officer through illegal means.

Two of Magsi's daughters, who were working for the Balochistan Education Department, were terminated in 2013 after NAB found their degrees to be fake.

He said the former chairman had been accused of providing illegal help to some people in competition examinations.

Magsi is also accused of making around hundred appointments in violation of merit in BPSC.

Candidates and political parties had staged demonstrations against irregularities in BPSC. Subsequently, NAB launched an inquiry against Magsi and a reference was filed against him.