IHC restrains accountability court from proceeding against Dar

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) restrained on Wednesday an accountability court from proceeding against former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in corruption references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) until further orders.

Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb announced the verdict after hearing the petition filed by Dar’s counsel, local media reported. Dar had filed a petition in which he had challenged the accountability court declaring him a proclaimed offender due to his continuous failure to appear before the court.

Hearing adjourned after recording witnesses’ statements against Ishaq Dar

On Tuesday, the IHC had also restrained the accountability court from seizing the properties of Ahmed Ali Qudusi, Dar’s guarantor till Wednesday (today). On December 14, the court had ordered NAB to submit a report and attach the properties held by Qudusi, due to his failure to present Dar before the court.

On December 11, the court declared Dar a proclaimed offender and warned Qudusi that his surety bonds worth Rs.5 million would be confiscated if Dar failed to join the trial proceedings.