Dar's guarantor given last chance to produce accused by Dec 4

ISLAMABAD: An Accountability Court (AC) of Islamabad Wednesday gave last chance to the guarantor of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar directing him to ensure the attendance of accused before court by December 4, in a reference regarding assets beyond known sources of income.

The summon notice for Ishaq Dar had been displayed at notice board of the accountability court in a move to initiate the process to declare the accused as absconder due to his continuous non-appearance.

AC Judge Muhammad Bashir took up the reference for hearing against Ishaq Dar filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in compliance with Supreme Court orders in Panama papers case.

The accused would be declared as absconder if he failed to appear before the court within ten days in accordance with the summon notice of November 21.

As the hearing began, the guarantor of Finance Minister, Ahmed Ali Qudoosi informed the court that Mr Dar needed three to four weeks to return from abroad due to his heart treatment.

He said he was also going to visit Ishaq Dar in London to inquire after his health.

Qudoosi said the angiography of Ishaq Dar has been completed and a medical report was awaited in this regard.

However, the NAB Prosecutor contended that the court had already granted sufficient time to the accused to ensure his attendance before the court.

He requested the court to confiscate the surety bonds submitted by the accused's guarantor for failing to produce Ishaq Dar.

After hearing the arguments, the court gave last chance to the guarantor to produce Ishaq Dar by December 4, and also directed to display summon notice for him on court's notice board.

The notice read that the accused would be declared absconder if he failed to appear before court.