ISLAMABAD - Keeping the bailable arrest warrants intact, Accountability Court Islamabad on Wednesday rejected the plea of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar seeking exemption from personal appearance and conducting the trial through his representative and asked him to ensure his presence before the court on November 14.
The court further directed him to further furnish another two million rupees surety bond on next date of hearing and also give last chance to him as well as his guarantor who has already given surety bond of Rs5 million, which would be forfeited in case he would not turn up before the court.
Judge Mohammad Bashir remarked that in case Finance Minister Ishaq Dar would not turn up on next date of hearing, the court would initiate the process of declaring him(Dar) a proclaimed offender.
Earlier, the defence counsel in the case presented the medical report of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar before the court and moved an application seeking exemption from personal presence in the court during the trial owing to his lengthy medical treatment abroad. He further requested the court to continue with his trial through his counsel the point strongly opposed by the prosecution.
As the hearing began, the Dar’s counsel Ayesha Hamid requested the court to grant exemption to his client from hearing and conduct the trial through a representative due to Dar’s medial issues.
He informed the court that Dar was admitted in a hospital due to cardiac issues and was constrained to stay in London for treatment. She further informed that Finance Minister underwent angiography and angioplasty during his treatment.
On the other hand, the NAB prosecutor opposed the Dar’s request and argued that it was just an attempt to delay the case proceeding. He claimed that Dar had no such illness, which could stop him from appearing before the court.
He requested the court to issue non-bailable arrest warrants for Ishaq Dar for his non-appearance, which was turned down by the accountability court.
After hearing the arguments, the court earlier reserved its judgment on Dar’s plea and later dismissed it and directed him to ensure his presence before the court on next date of hearing and adjourned the hearing in the case till Nov. 14.
The court also maintained his bailable arrest warrants and rejected the NAB request seeking non-bailable arrest warrants for Finance Minister for his non-appearance.
The court directed to serve notices to the Dar’s guarantors and observed that surety bonds of the accused could be forfeited if he failed to appear before the court on next date of hearing.
On previous date of hearing the court had granted him one time exemption from appearance before the court and had maintained his bailable arrest warrants.
The NAB had filed a reference against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar regarding assets beyond known sources of income in compliance with the Supreme Court verdict in Panama papers revelations case.
