ISLAMABAD - Joint Investigation Team for Panama Papers probe head Wajid Zia on Monday recorded his statement before the Accountability Court Islamabad in assets beyond means reference against former finance minister Ishaq Dar and also presented the original copies of Volume 1 and 9.
Investigation Officer Nadir Abbas in the case was also to depose before the court but due to illness he could not turn up. His statement would now be recorded on February 14.
Wajid Zia, who is additional director in the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is key prosecution witness in the reference against Dar who is facing charges of amassing assets beyond known sources of income.
While deposing before the court, Zia informed the court that the FIA forwarded his name for inclusion in the JIT, adding that on May 5 the Supreme Court ordered the formation of the JIT under him.
He then informed the court of the work they did related to the former finance minister, stating that Dar's assets were shown to be Rs9.1 million according to his wealth statement in 1991, and Rs831.6 million in 2008-2009 statement.
Zia added Dar failed to prove the enormous growth in his assets before the JIT.
Moreover, Zia confirmed his signature on the JIT report before the judge. After Zia's statement was recorded, the hearing was adjourned until February 14.
At the outset of the hearing in the case, judge Mohammad Bashir asked about Wajid Zia and other prosecution witnesses who were to record statements before the court because the witnesses were a bit late. The court was informed that Zia had been summoned and should appear soon.
The judge then adjourned the proceedings till 11:30am to give time to the prosecution witness to appear.
During the hearing in the morning, the NAB prosecutor informed the court that there were reports that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was facing three corruption cases before the same court, planned to travel abroad.
Judge Bashir then observed that it would not be right if the accountability court's proceedings were delayed as the Supreme Court and the JIT completed their work on time during the Panama case hearing.
According to the NAB reference, Dar had acquired assets and pecuniary interests/resources in his name or in the name of his dependents of an approximate amount of Rs831.678 million as per the investigation conducted so far.
The anti-corruption watchdog had filed the reference against Dar in compliance with the Supreme Court July 28 verdict.
The former finance minister had been declared a proclaimed offender over his perpetual absence from the trial proceedings.
Earlier, the IHC had permitted the accountability court to resume ex-parte proceedings against Dar after discarding his plea to suspend his declaration as proclaimed offender by the accountability court in the graft reference.