Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court resumed on Wednesday the hearing in a corruption reference against former finance minister Ishaq Dar.

As the hearing went underway, the prosecution presented its witnesses, Ishtiaq Ahmed and Wasif Hussain, to record their statements.

Hussain told the court that 11 notifications had been submitted in the case so far.

The court then adjourned the hearing until August 7.

On July 21, the Federal Investigation Agency issued a red notice for former minister to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol).

Sources said the Interpol had been requested to assist in bringing back Dar to Pakistan to face the corruption case against him.

Dar has been in London since October last year on account of his medical treatment and has been declared an absconder in the corruption case against him.

Sources said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had requested the Interior Ministry for the issuance of the red notice. Late last year, an executive board meeting, chaired by NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal, had decided to bring Dar back to Pakistan with the help of the Interpol.

“He [Dar] is suffering from no such ailment that cannot be treated in Pakistan,” a notification issued by the anti-graft body had said.

Meanwhile, the same court – which is hearing the Al Azizia and Flagship corruption cases against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif – adjourned proceedings until today owing to the ongoing appeals of Nawaz and his family members against the court’s Avenfield verdict.

The former finance minister is accused of possessing assets disproportionate to his declared sources of income.

A reference against the former finance minister was filed by NAB in light of the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case.

Published in Daily Times, August  2^nd 2018.