QUETTA, Feb 17: A Balochistan High Court division bench on Monday acquitted former minister Bismillah Khan Kakar of the Pakistan People's Party, who had been awarded a jail sentence and fine by an accountability court in a corruption reference.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed and Justice Akhtar Zaman Malghani announced the judgment on an appeal filed by Mr Kakar against the verdict of the accountability court.

The accountability court had convicted the former minister in a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau alleging that he had made appointments in violation of rules in the Water and Sanitation Authority, causing loss to the national exchequer.

Mr Kakar was also convicted in another reference for misappropriation of Baitul Mal funds and his appeal against that verdict is pending before the high court. Ayaz Zahoor advocate appeared on behalf of the appellant.