ISLAMABAD - The National Accountability Bureau on Wednesday sought permission from the accountability court to file a supplementary reference against former finance minister Ishaq Dar in the assets beyond means case due to which the recording of statement of investigation officer in the case was deferred till next date.

Now the court would take up the case on February 23.

Announcing verdict on another application moved by former finance minister Ishaq Dar against freezing of his assets by the NAB, the judge maintained the order of keeping the encumbrance on sale of his assets by the NAB intact.

The court had reserved judgement on the matter after hearing arguments from both sides on February 7, and announced verdict on Wednesday.

When the judge Mohammad Bashir of the Accountability Court Islamabad took up the case against former finance minister Ishaq Dar, investigation officer in the case Nadir Abbas was to depose before the court but he was not available.

The NAB prosecutor informed the court that investigation officer was on way to the court and sought break in the hearing.

The judge accepting the plea took the break till 11:30am.

Later, when the court resumed hearing of the case after 11:30am, investigation officer Nadir Abbas appeared before the court and sought time and permission for filing of supplementary reference against Ishaq Dar.

To a query of court, the NAB prosecutor informed that the other prosecution witness Inamul Haq was ill but now his condition was better but even then he did not turn up.

He said that the court could even issue his arrest warrant for not complying with the court orders.

The court, however, gave him last chance to appear before court to record his statement and adjourned the hearing in the case till February 23, when the other witnesses in the case would also record their statements.