Court warns to declare Ishaq Dar proclaimed offender

A notice, dated November 21, was pasted on Wednesday outside the accountability court warning former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to appear before the court within 10 days or he will be declared a proclaimed offender.

During the court proceedings, neither Dar's guarantor Ahmad Ali Qudoosi nor his lawyer was present in the court. Today, the court will be hearing the arguments related to Dar’s 5 million surety bonds confiscation.

The court had issued the notice to Dar, who is currently in London, on November 21 and have given him 10 days time to appear before the court. In case he still fails to appear on December 4, the expiry date of the 10-day period, the court will likely declare him a proclaimed offender, the notice reads.

Accountability court declares Ishaq Dar absconder

During the proceedings last week, the court had declared Dar as absconder for his continuous failure to appear before the court. And the court had given Qudoosi a notice to submit a note as to why Dar’s surety bonds should not be confiscated.

Dar has repeatedly failed to appear before the court for his corruption hearing filed by NAB. During the previous hearing, he was in London for medical treatment and had filed a request to be exempted from the court proceedings. Qudoosi had also submitted a medical report to Judge Muhammad Bashir.

On November 23, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi accepted Dar’s leave application and had withdrawn the portfolio of finance minister from Ishaq Dar.