KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday arrested Kamran Michael, former federal minister for ports and shipping, for allegedly misusing his authority as minister and usurping over Rs1 billion.

The NAB Karachi had arrested the former federal minister, said its spokesperson who termed the arrest a “major breakthrough”.

Mr Michael has been charged with illegally getting three commercial and flat site plots of prime locations of the KPT Cooperative Housing Society in Karachi’s Mai Kolachi area allotted in the name of some people from whom he allegedly received bribe.

The former federal minister allegedly misused his authority for influencing some officials to get these plots allotted in the name of his favourite people in 2013, the spokesperson said.

The value of these three precious plots of KPT Cooperative Society is about Rs1.05 billion.

A corruption reference with respect to 16 such plots was already filed by the NAB Karachi, in which evidence against Mr Michael for receiving bribe was unearthed during investigation.

Mr Micheal remained minister for ports and shipping from 2013 to 2016. He has also held other portfolios in federal cabinet during different tenures.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2019