News Analysis |
The accountability court hearing the corruption case against the former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar recorded the statement of six more witnesses on Friday. Dar, a senior member of PML-N and a close aide of the Sharif family, is accused of possessing more assets than his income in the 831 million rupees corruption reference.
During the hearing on Friday, Excise and Taxation Office (ETO) Muhammad Naeem recorded his statement first and produced the details of the vehicle owned by Dar. Banking Analysts Zafar Iqbal submitted the details of the 15 bank accounts owned by Dar and his wife.
Three references were filed against Nawaz Sharif and his family and one reference was filed against former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The apex court directed the accountability court to complete the trial within six months.
Former director of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Qaboos Aziz appeared before the court and testified that he had presented the details of Dar’s family tree to NAB after which his service was terminated.
Later, the prosecution witness Saeed Ahmed Khan, deputy director of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), submitted the details of the asset declaration that Ishaq Dar provided each year to the ECP.
Lahore Development Authority (LDA) official Mirza Faizur Rehman also recorded his statement as a witness. He presented the record of Dar’s property in Gulbery, Lahore which he bought from former Pakistani film star Deeba.
Read more: Accountability court issues non-bailable arrest warrant for Ishaq Dar
Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan of the Inland Revenue Service (IRS) was the last one to record his statement. He presented the 30 year income tax record of Ishaq Dar. Khan told the court that he will also present additional record before the court.
The former minister’s assets were also seized by NAB for failing to show up.
Four corruption references were filed by NAB after the 28th July verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
NAB’s special prosecutor Imran Shafiq requested the court to allow him to present five more witnesses before the court. The permission was granted and the hearing was adjourned till 29th January (Monday).
The accountability court has so far recorded the statements of 19 out of 28 prosecution witnesses. Legal experts believe that the trial will be concluded in the next few days since almost all the witnesses have recorded their statements. Five witnesses will record their statements on Monday and three witnesses recorded their statements during the last hearing on Wednesday.
Ishaq Dar has been a no-show during the accountability court hearings. Non-bailable arrest warrants were sent to Dar’s residence by NAB on 14th November 2017, and the court declared him a proclaimed offender on 11th December 2017 for not showing up for the hearings of the case. Dar excused himself from the hearings by declaring that he has a heart disease but the court rejected the excuse and declared him an absconder. The former minister’s assets were also seized by NAB for failing to show up.
Read more: Has Sharif family abandoned Ishaq Dar?
Four corruption references were filed by NAB after the 28th July verdict by the Supreme Court which disqualified the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Three references were filed against Nawaz Sharif and his family and one reference was filed against former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The apex court directed the accountability court to complete the trial within six months.