ISLAMABAD: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Additional Director Wajid Zia, who headed the Panama-Joint Investigation Team (JIT), appeared before the accountability court on Monday where corruption proceedings were underway against former finance minister Ishaq Dar. Zia is a key prosecution witness in the reference against Dar, accused by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of possessing assets disproportionate to his declared sources of income. As Zia appeared in the court, he submitted volume one and nine of the original Panama-JIT report and began recording his statement. He informed the court that the FIA forwarded his name for inclusion in the JIT, adding that on May 5 the Supreme Court had ordered the formation of the JIT under him. He then informed the court that Dar’s assets were shown to be Rs9.1 million according to his wealth statement in 1991 and Rs 831.6 million in the 2008-09 statement. Zia added that Dar failed to prove the enormous growth in his assets before the JIT. Moreover, Zia confirmed his signature on the JIT report before the judge. After Zia’s statement was recorded, the hearing was adjourned until February 14. During the hearing, the NAB prosecutor informed the court that there were reports that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who is facing three corruption cases before the same court, plans to travel abroad. Judge Bashir observed that it would not be right if the accountability court’s proceedings were delayed as the Supreme Court and JIT had completed their work on time during the Panamacase hearing. Published in Daily Times, February 13th 2018.