Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar ordered on Thursday to ensure the return of former finance minister Ishaq Dar within ten days.

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

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court presided over by the CJP has resumed the hearing of the case pertaining to a summon issued to Dar.

The interior secretary, foreign secretary, DG NAB, and other related officials appeared in the hearing session.

As the hearing commenced the Chief Justice questioned, “Where are NAB officials? What has NAB done up till now to bring back Dar?”

Justice Nisar then directed the relevant authorities to take measures to ensure the absconder’s return to Pakistan in 10 days.

The CJP then inquired that if Dar’s password would get canceled, would he be able to continue living in Britain.

To this, the additional attorney general informed the apex court that the absconder could take asylum in the said country in case of the cancellation of his passport.

“If this is the case then he must take asylum there and cite the reason that Pakistani courts are being unfair,” Justice Nisar responded.

Also read Ishaq Dar Assets case: Defence completes cross-examination of NAB witness Masood Al-Ghani

He further said that the court is upset as Dar had been ignoring the summons for so long.

CJP further asked if any measures have taken by the current government to bring the absconder back.

The additional attorney general responded that NAB has declared him an absconder and also referred the matter to Interpol.

Another NAB officer, present at the hearing, then remarked that the anti-graft bureau had already written a letter to the Ministry of Interior for the issuance of a red warrant.

The apex court judge further remarked, “The man is roaming around on the streets of London but unwilling to come back home. He cites his ailment as the reason of failure to return to Pakistan.”

“Dar is not willing to act upon the court’s orders and summons,” Justice Nisar added.

The additional attorney general then presented a report regarding the cancellation of the passport.

Also read Accountability Court resumes corruption reference hearing against Ishaq Dar

After issuing all relevant departments to consult on the matter, the CJP then adjourned the hearing till September 11.

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

The case itself involves the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) initiating proceedings against Ishaq Dar for possessing assets that do not equate with his known sources of income, and follows the original Supreme Court verdict in the historic Panama Papers case verdict in July 2017.

NAB had filed an interim reference against Dar in September 2017, who was later indicted in the case but has been absconding since then.

The national watchdog later filed references against National Bank of Pakistan President Saeed Ahmed, Naeem Mehmood and Mansoor Rizvi, and held them as co-accused in the case.

Memhood and Rizvi, meanwhile, are directors of a company Ishaq Dar owns.