Pak: Ishaq Dar appears in Accountability Court; trial underway

Islamabad, Oct 12: Accountability Court on Thursday resumed hearing of the case against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar pertaining to possession of assets beyond his known sources of income. Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir picked up the reference against Ishaq Dar filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in compliance of Supreme Court orders in Panama papers case judgment. For Thursday’s proceeding, Ishaq Dar appeared in the court early morning along with his counsel Khawaja Haris and officials of NAB, a Samaa report said. As the hearing began, the NAB witness Tariq Javed – who is senior vice-president of Al Baraka bank – presented some documents regarding the case and recorded his statement. He appeared in the court as a witness in the case for the second time. Counsel for Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Haris, will cross-examine with the NAB’s witness. In the previous hearing on Oct 4, the court recorded testimony of two witnesses Ishtiaq Ahmed – who is an official of Inland Revenue department – and Tariq Javed, and summoned Shahid Aziz for today’s hearing. In the case, which is pertaining to possession of assets beyond known sources of income, Dar was indicted on September 27. The court later started his trial on October 4. The Finance Minister had denied all charges that were levelled against him terming them false, and submitted surety bonds worth Rs 5 million as per directions of the court to ensure his attendance. UNI