The plot thickens: Imran submits graft proof against Baidar

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan submitted documentary proof of corruption in court on Saturday against the sacked Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) minister Bakht Baidar Khan. The district and sessions judge Shaibar Khan announced arguments will be heard from both sides at the next hearing on February 22, to see whether the case is maintainable or not. Imran Khan’s counsel, Advocate Qazi Muhammad Anwer, said the case should be dismissed from the sessions court, since it is not maintainable. However, Bakht Baidar’s counsel Kifayat Khan requested the court for a copy of the proof submitted, so they could reply to the allegations leveled against him. The court then ordered Kifayat to file an application to requisition said documents. Former Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) minister Bakht Baidar has said if a rupee’s worth of corruption is proven against him, he would pay Rs1 billion to Imran Khan and would be ready to be sentenced. Baidar said he only provided jobs to unemployed people, and would do the same if the ministry was given to him again. “The plaintiff, in violation of the law, directed the appointment of 110 male and 85 female teaching and non-teaching staff at the Working Folks Grammar School, Dir,” read the statement submitted by Imran Khan at the last hearing on February 1. “Thus, these unauthorised and illegal appointments unnecessarily burdened the Workers Welfare Board and, thereby, the public exchequer.” It added, “From October 1 to November 8, 2013, under the orders of the plaintiff, WWB Secretary Tariq Awan appointed 557 persons at teaching and non-teaching posts, and as drivers, qasids and sanitary workers. Thus, irregularities, illegalities and misuse of power by the plaintiff is a matter of record, which shall be summoned as evidence in court if need be, so the misdeeds of the plaintiff are brought on record.” The statement went on to posit that Baidar accepted a review petition from Engineer Naimatullah Gandapur, who had been removed from the post of Deputy Director Works by the Workers Welfare Board (WWB) on October 12, 2012. Gandapur’s petition was arbitrarily accepted by the plaintiff on August 5, 2013, recalling the removal order and reinstating him to the same post with full benefits. A sum of Rs4,882,991 was paid to him as allowance, including medical allowance and telephone calls as arrears for the period from his removal up to reinstatement. “A double cabin vehicle was allotted to the plaintiff when he was minister, but was in fact misused by his brother,” added the statement. “An expenditure of Rs751,988 was drawn for this vehicle on account of fuel, repair and maintenance. Bakht Baidar, former minister for industries, commerce and labour, was removed from the provincial cabinet on November 13, along with Minister for Environment Ibrar Hussain Tanoli. The two QWP ministers were sacked over charges of corruption on the directives of the PTI chairman. The move led to QWP breaking out of the coalition government in K-P. Later, Baidar sent a legal notice to Imran Khan, suing him for Rs1 billion, citing defamation. Imran did not reply to the legal notice, after which Baidar approached the court. Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2014.