ISLAMABAD - The Accountability Court Islamabad on Thursday deferred the hearing in corruption reference against former finance minister Ishaq Dar till January 2nd.
The AC Judge, Muhammad Bashir, conducted hearing in the reference against Dar regarding assets beyond known sources of income filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and put off the case without any proceeding after the prosecution informed that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a stay order against the trial of the accused.
During the hearing, NAB prosecutor Imran Shafiq told the court that the IHC on December 20th restrained the accountability court from proceedings against Dar.
The IHC’s stay order will remain in force till January 17th, when it would take up the matter again, he added.
Earlier, a dual bench of IHC comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan granted the stay on Dar’s petition, challenging issuance of arrest warrants and declaration as proclaimed offender by the AC.
The prosecutor requested the court that the next date of hearing of reference against Dar should be fixed after the court’s vacations.
On this, the court asked about the copy of the IHC’s order.
The NAB prosecutor replied that an application had been submitted before the relevant authority and he would submit it before the AC after the court vacations.
The prosecutor further said that it would be clear during the aforesaid period whether or not the accused would appear before the court.
The judge also asked who has appeared on behalf of Dar.
At this, the prosecutor informed the court that no one has appeared on behalf of Dar.
Later, the court deferred the hearing of the case till January 2nd, and directed the NAB to submit a copy of the IHC order on that date.