ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has decided to contact Interpol to bring former finance minister Ishaq Dar back to Pakistan to face trial in the court in connection with disproportionate assets case. The decision was taken during NAB’s Executive Committee meeting headed by NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal on Thursday. A press release by NAB states that red warrants will be issued against Ishaq Dar.
Earlier, during the accountability court hearing of corruption reference against the former finance minister a prosecution witness on Thursday provided details of three bank accounts held by Ishaq Dar and his family.
Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir was hearing the reference regarding assets beyond known means of income, filed against Dar by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Supreme Court orders. The court had on Monday declared Dar a proclaimed offender for his continued absence from proceedings in the case. The statement of prosecution witness Azeem Khan, who belongs to a private bank, was recorded during Thursday’s hearing. Khan presented details of three bank accounts held by Dar and his family.
He said Dar’s first account remained functional from October 2001 until October 2012. The second account was functional between August 2012 and December 2016, while the third account was active from January 2017 until August 2017.
Khan presented computer-generated details of all accounts held by the accused. The details of account held by Hajvery holding company and record of the locker held by Dar and his wife was also presented in the court.
The court allowed witnesses Masood Ghani and Abdul Rehman to leave after they appeared with the record the judge asked for. They have already recorded their testimonies. The hearing of the case was adjourned until December 18. The prosecution asked the court to allow it to present nine witnesses at the next hearing. However, the court issued summons to five witnesses for appearance at the next hearing.
The court also ordered Dar’s bail guarantor, Ahmed Ali Qudoosi, to appear before it at 12:30pm and submit the Rs5 million surety bond as it now stands forfeited due to Dar’s absence. As Qudoosi failed to appear in court, the judge ordered the investigation officer to gather details of his properties and assets to submit in court. INP/DNA