ISLAMABAD – An accountability court on Thursday summoned Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in a reference submitted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income.
As per reports, accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir has directed Dar to appear on September 20 by issuing a notice to him at his residential address in Lahore.
According to NAB reference, Dar owns assets beyond his known sources of income; therefore, a trial under corruption charges should be launched. A 91 percent increase was observed in his assets in a short period of time, it added.
The accused was summoned to joint investigation but he did not appear citing a review petition against the Panamagate verdict in the Supreme Court, the reference stated.
Dar and his family possess assets worth Rs 839 billion, the reference said.
Earlier, the NAB had submitted reference against the minister to the court in Islamabad, but the registrar sent the reference back to the anti-graft watchdog terming it incomplete and ordered to attach additional documents.
Today, the NAB resubmitted the reference with additional details and documents, after which the court has summoned Dar.
The Supreme Court while announcing the landmark decision of Panamagate case, which caused ouster of Nawaz Sharif on July 28, had ordered the NAB to file references against the Sharif family and Ishaq Dar within six weeks. It also directed the NAB to decide the references within six months.
It is important to mention here that the court has already summoned members of Sharif family, including former PM Nawaz Sharif, Hassan, Hussain, Maryam and Captain Safdar on the basis of reference regarding London flats, Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Flagship firm on September 19.
