Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Wednesday formally indicted Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in a corruption reference filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for possessing assets beyond his known sources of income.

At the outset of the hearing, judge Muhammad Bashir read out the charges against Dar. However, Dar pleaded not guilty to all the charges, terming them baseless and concocted. He said that his assets were legitimate and in accordance with his means and that he will prove his innocence.

The court directed NAB prosecutor to produce at least two witnesses to testify against the accused. The NAB then presented before the court a list of 28 prosecution witnesses against Dar. These witnesses will be testified before the court during the coming hearings.

Amjad Pervez, counsel for Dar, told the court that his client did not receive the notice the court issues procedurally seven days prior to the indictment, thus depriving him of his legal right.

The court, however, told him that his client did not appear on the first hearing on Sept 19, thus this could be assumed that he has availed the seven-day notice period.

During the hearing, the court rejected Dar’s request seeking exemption from personal appearance before the court on forthcoming hearings as charges had been framed. NAB’s prosecutor, however, opposed the plea.

The court observed that sine the case had to be wrapped up in six months, thus it would be heard on day-to-day basis after October 4.

Earlier, Dar reached the Accountability Courts Complex at 8:40 am amid tight security cordon. However, he faced hurdles while entering into the court complex as its gates were shut due to the huge crowd gathered outside.

The police personnel guarding the gate expressed fears that the crowd might enter the court premises if the gates were kept opened. Later, security personnel escorted Dar to the court complex through its rear gate.

Heavy contingents of police both in uniform and plain clothes were deployed around the courts complex to avert any untoward incident. Even media, lawyers and other litigants were not allowed to enter the court premises.

NAB had filed a corruption reference against Dar on September 8, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case. Dar is accused of possessing assets beyond his known sources of income.

In its report to the Supreme Court, the joint investigation team (JIT), which probed the Panama Papers case, pointed out an exorbitant increase in Dar’s assets from 2008 to 2009. NAB has also seized the bank accounts and properties of Dar as the court initiated proceedings against him in the graft reference.

The bureau, however, has left room for transactions from these accounts, as NAB made them subject to the orders of the accountability court.

Published in Daily Times, September 28^th 2017.