Assets reference: Accountability court declares Ishaq Dar 'absconder'
The court has directed Dar to submit Rs50 lac bail bonds in the court.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - An accountability court on Monday declared Ishaq Dar an absconder in assets beyond known sources of income reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Judge Muhammad Bashir conducted hearing of the case and directed Dar to submit Rs50 lac bail bonds in the court. The former Finance Minister was declared an absconder due to continuous absence from hearings.
The court had earlier reserved its decision during the previous hearing in which NAB prosecutor adopted stance that the summon is not required to be sent to London as the suspect is aware of the entire court proceedings.
He argued that Dar is not suffering from any heart disease while his every medical report differs from the previous one. The prosecutor appealed that the suspect should be declared an absconder due to continuous absence from hearings.
Also Read: Ishaq Dar’s name, photo removed from Ministry of Finance website
However; the defence lawyer while opposing the plea maintained that they were awaiting the MRI report of his client. He told the court that as Ishaq Dar is still ill and suffering from chest pain, he will undergo further tests.
The defense lawyer said that NAB’s warrant was sent on the address where his client no longer resides. Ishaq Dar’s new medical report was also submitted in the court which says that he has a minor problem in heart vessel.
IHC turns down Dar’s exemption plea
On the other hand, Islamabad High Court rejected the plea of former Finance Minister seeking exemption from appearance in assets beyond known sources of income case.
Justice Athar Manullah and Justice Mian Gul Hassan Aurang conducted hearing over Dar’s petition against his non-bailable arrest warrants.
Ishaq Dar’s lawyer told judges that his client is unable to personally appear in the accountability court due to ill health and wants to become part of the trial proceedings through his representative.
He argued that Dar had regularly appeared in the previous hearings when he was in good health. The lawyer added that a 30-day time span is provided to the suspect from indictment till being declared as an absconder but it was reduced to 10 days.
He requested the court to grant exemption to his client from personal appearances. On court’s inquiry, Dar’s lawyer told that his client will return to Pakistan in 10-15 days if allowed by doctors.
“Don’t condition Ishaq Dar’s return to country with the permission of doctors. How can we give relief to the petitioner if he is not willing to come back? Dar’s arrival date should be specified or should we deem that he will not return till indefinite period,” remarked the judge.
The court while adjourning the hearing till December 20, directed NAB to submit reply in the petition in a week.
