Islamabad (September 27, 2017): Finance Minister Ishaq Dar reached Accountability Court-I as the court is scheduled to indict the minister in the National Accountability Bureau’s reference filed for making assets beyond known sources of income.
As Dar reached Federal Judicial Complex, which also houses the accountability court, media was not allowed to entered the complex.
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The main gate of the complex was closed and even Dar was taken to the court from the rear gate of the building. Strict security arrangements have been made at the complex.
A number of lawyers were seen climbing over the gate to enter the complex.
Judge Mohammad Bashir started the proceeding.
The corruption reference, pertaining to Dar’s owning assets that are disproportionate to his known sources of income, was filed by the National Accountability Bureau in light of the Supreme Court’s July 28 judgment in the Panama Papers case.
Dar appeared in court on Monday after his bailable warrants for arrest was issued by the court when he did not came up for hearing on September 19 despite court summon.
During Monday’s hearing, Judge Mohammad Bashir had announced that the finance minister would be indicted on the next hearing. Dar counsel was handed over copy of the NAB reference — spread over 23 volumes.
Dar’s counsel asked the court to grant seven days for perusing the reference against his client but the judge denied the request, observing that the court has to complete the trial in six months as per the apex court’s directions.
“If you take a month to read the reference how will we wrap up proceedings in the given time,” the judge asked, observing further that two days are enough to go over the reference.
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