KARACHI: An accountability court on Monday allowed more time to the investigating officer for completing the process of proclamation of former minister Babar Ghauri in a case pertaining to alleged corruption through illegal job regularisations in the Karachi Port Trust.

Mr Ghauri along with the then KPT chairmen Javed Hanif and Rauf Akhtar Farooqui, Mohammad Iqbal, Mohammad Saparas and others have been charged with committing corruption through illegal regularisation of 940 employees of the KPT.

On Monday, the matter was fixed before the accountability court-II Judge Aaliya Latif Unnar, when the IO requested for more time for completing of the process of proclamation of the ex-minister and attachment of his properties under Sections 87 and 88 of the Criminal Pro­cedure Code.

Allowing the request, the judge adjourned the hearing and directed the IO to submit such report on the next date.

Six accused, including a sitting legislator belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan Javed Hanif, have been indicted in the case. The court had separated the matter against Babar Ghauri and ordered the IO to initiate the proceedings of his proclamation.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2019