ISLAMABAD: The accountability court hearing a corruption reference against former finance minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Monday declared him a proclaimed offender due to his continued absence from the proceedings.
Dar, who remains a federal minister but has been in London for over a month due to medical treatment, is accused by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The court also ordered Dar’s bail guarantor Ahmad Qudoosi to produce the suspect within three days, warning seizure of his Rs5m surety bond if he fails to do so.
As the hearing began, Dar’s counsel submitted his client’s fresh medical report in court and pleaded for delaying his declaration as a proclaimed offender.
However, NAB special prosecutor Imran Shafique opposed the plea.
Judge Mohammad Bashir then reserved the order.
Announcing his decision, the judge declared Dar a proclaimed offender and ordered his bail guarantor to ensure his presence in court within three days or lose the surety bond of Rs5 million.
Also during the hearing, Qazi Misbah, a former deputy prosecutor general of NAB, appeared on behalf of Dar and requested the judge to be allowed to plead Dar’s case. However, the judge dismissed the request as Misbah is not a counsel in the case.
