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Tuesday, November 12, 2024

PML-N leader Ishaq Dar gets jail-free card

During today's hearing, it was decided to suspend Ishaq Dar's arrest warrants. Needless to say, the latest development has PTI leaders in anger as another PML-N leader has escaped arrest.

An accountability court has suspended the permanent arrest warrant for PML-N leader and former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

PML-N senior leader Ishaq Dar had earlier filed a plea in the accountability court, challenging his arrest warrants released by the NAB court. Pertinent to mention, in May, an accountability court in Islamabad issued a permanent arrest warrant for Ishaq Dar after he repeatedly failed to show up for the trial, remaining instead in a self-imposed exile in London.

During today’s hearing, accountability court judge Muhammad Bashir heard Ishaq Dar’s plea to cancel the arrest warrants against him. It was decided to suspend Ishaq Dar’s arrest warrants on his lawyer Qazi Misbah’s guarantee that Dar would come straight to the court after landing at the airport.

Read more: Accountability court orders permanent arrest warrant against Ishaq Dar

Moreover, the court said it would scrap the arrest warrants when the accused presents himself before the court.

PTI’s reaction

Needless to say, the latest development has PTI leaders in anger as another PML-N leader has escaped arrest for the alleged corruption charges leveled against them.

“Is there anyone left? The fruits of NAB Ordinance amendments are being reaped- this is the essence of regime change – all big thieves are forgiven,” PTI leader and former governor of Sindh Imran Ismail said.

“So one agenda of the US regime change conspiracy, which PDM sought, especially PML-N, already reaching conclusion fast. NAB amendments have saved the Sharif family’s and PML-N leaders’ looted wealth. Now absconding convicts free-from-jail card arranged. Pakistan a haven for money launderers and  looters of the nation,” PTI leader and former federal minister Shireen Mazari tweeted.

Ishaq Dar returning to Pakistan

On petitions filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami’s Sirajul Haq, and Awami Muslim League’s Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the accountability court on July 28, 2017, ordered the anti-graft body to file three references, one of which was against Ishaq Dar.

The reference claimed that Ishaq Dar’s assets were “disproportionate to his known sources of income for which he could not reasonably account for.”

In May, an accountability court in Islamabad issued a permanent arrest warrant for Ishaq Dar after he repeatedly failed to show up for the trial, remaining instead in a self-imposed exile in London. Ishaq Dar has remained in London for the past four years, where he is reportedly undergoing medical treatment.

Read more: Ishaq Dar’s health is better now, returning to save economy

However, things have changed now with PML-N in power and Ishaq Dar is returning to Pakistan to replace Finance Minister Miftah Ismail.