ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad Accountability Court on Monday reserved judgment on declaring former finance minister Ishaq Dar as a proclaimed offender for December 11.

At the outset of the proceedings, defence counsel in the case presented a fresh medical certificate of the accused and submitted that Dar would undergo another major test next week, seeking some more time so that he could come back on the advice of his doctors.

The prosecution counsel opposed the defence counsel’s arguments and said the defence side had furnished such medical certificates as were earlier rejected by the court. He further submitted the accused had deliberately been avoiding the court proceedings for over a month and prayed to the court to declare him a proclaimed offender as the final timeline given to the accused had already lapsed.

The defence counsel came up with counter-arguments and said the court could get Ishaq Dar examined through a medical board or could approach the Pakistan High Commission in United Kingdom through the Foreign Office to get the medical certificate verified.

The defence counsel further informed the court that Ishaq Dar was suffering from heart ailment and one of his heart veins was 45 to 50 percent blocked, so he would undergo another test next week after which doctors would decide about his travel to Pakistan.

When Judge Mohammad Bashir asked for how long Ishaq Dar was not appearing before the court, the defence counsel replied his client last appeared before the court on October 30. That means one month and four days, the judge remarked.

The prosecution counsel informed the court that the process of declaring Ishaq Dar a proclaimed offender was completed as they had displayed the court notice at his residence in the Ministers’ Colony, at the general bus stand Faizabad and he was aware of all the proceedings of the court and wilfully avoiding appearing before the court.

The court, after hearing arguments from both sides, reserved the judgment on declaring him an absconder on December 11.

The court had also served notice to his guarantor, Ahmad Ali Quddoosi, why his surety bond of Rs 5 million should not be forfeited as he had failed to ensure the presence of Ishaq Dar during the trial.

On the last date of hearing, guarantor Ahmad Ali Quddoosi also sought three weeks from the court for bringing Ishaq Dar back as he was under treatment in London and could only return on his doctors’ advice.