Court seeks proof from PTI chief of power’s misuse

PESHAWAR: A local court on Saturday directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan to produce written proof that the sacked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) provincial general secretary Bakht Baidar Khan had misused his power as member of the cabinet.

District and Sessions Judge (DSJ) Peshawar Shaiber Khan asked the lawyers for PTI chairman Imran Khan to obtain the written proof from their client during the next hearing. He fixed February 15 for

hearing.

Earlier, the PTI chief’s lawyers submitted reply against the sacked QWP minister’s damages suit of one billion rupees in the court on behalf of their client. The PTI chief claimed in the reply that the QWP minister was removed because of misuse of powers and his involvement in illegal appointments.

It was stated in the reply that the minister made illegal appointments of 195 teachers, including 110 male and 95 female teachers, at a school run by the Board in Dir district.

It added that on the directives of the minister, Tariq Awan also made 557 appointments from October to November 8, 2013, whose proof could be produced in the court.

Furthermore, it said the former minister not only restored the sacked deputy director works, Naimatullah Gandapur, but also ordered payment of his salary and other allowances causing loss of over Rs4.8 million to the public exchequer.