ISLAMABAD – An accountability court in Islamabad issued arrest warrants for Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the corruption reference filed by National Accountability Bureau.
The warrants were issued on Monday by the Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir with accused Ishaq Dar skipping today’s proceedings.
Dar’s counsel Khawaja Haris appeared before the court and argued that the finance minister was in London for his medical checkup. He also requested the court to exempt the finance minister from the court appearance.
To this, the NAB’s prosecutor argued that these were delaying tactics and requested the court to issue arrest warrants for the finance minister upon which the Haris’ plea was rejected.
The court remarked that the surety bond worth Rs5 million submitted by Ishaq Dar would be seized in case he fails to appear before the court on next hearing.
The court also issued a notice to the surety guarantor of Ishaq Dar.
As many as four Witnesses including Abdur Rehman Gondal and Musa Ghani had to record their statements against the finance minister, however, only two of them recorded their statement.
The Accountability Court adjourned the hearing until Thursday in the reference regarding assets beyond means.
The accountability watchdog had submitted a plea in court seeking its endorsement of the bureau’s October 18 order directing the freezing of Dar and his family’s assets but it was not discussed.
