ISLAMABAD: On Friday, an accountability court revoked the arrest warrants for Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the case of assets beyond means brought by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
After the minister and his attorney Qazi Misbah appeared before Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir, the cancellation orders were given. The minister was also ordered by the court to provide one million rupee surety bonds.
Misbah requested the court to permanently revoke both the asset confiscation order and the arrest warrant for his client at the beginning of the session.The attorney informed the judge that the arrest warrants had been obtained in order for Dar to come before the court and that they should be revoked now that the minister was present.
The prosecutor for the anti-corruption agency was questioned by Judge Bashir: “Did NAB also issue arrest warrants of Ishaq Dar?”The body of anti-graft said yes, but added that the warrants were suspended.What do you think about whether the warrants should be cancelled today, in your opinion? the court asked.
The NAB prosecutor responded in favour of the revocation of the warrants, stating that they had been issued to guarantee Dar’s appearance in the case.
Dar’s arrest warrant is suspended by the accountability court
The judge delayed Dar’s arrest warrants last week until October 7.
Judge Mohammad Bashir of the Accountability Court gave the directives and instructed the police not to detain the minister when he arrived in Pakistan.The judge said that after Dar returned to Pakistan, the court will decide whether or not to revoke his arrest warrants.
Once Dar comes in person before the court, the arrest orders will be permanently revoked, the judge declared.After the Supreme Court rejected Dar’s appeal in a corruption case after he decided to withdraw the plea, the lawmaker petitioned the accountability court.