Senate body asks how Dar managed to open bank account

Senate Standing Committee on Finance was surprised to know that former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar managed to open his bank account in Pakistan for recent Senate elections despite being on an absconders' list. A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance presided over by Senator Saleem Mandviwalla questioned the official of a bank: "Have they ever opened an account of an absconder?" Politically exposed persons (PEPs) are unable to get their accounts opened in Pakistan but a person who has been declared absconder by a court and is sitting abroad got his account opened easily in Lahore. He said those who have opened his account may face the music if his opponent decides to move the court.
Later on talking to media persons, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla said that his party will move the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against former finance minister and will challenge his victory. The officials of the bank said that they have fulfilled all the legal requirements before opening of Ishaq Dar's account.
The chairman of the committee expressing his displeasure stated that discrimination is being meted out to some companies in rescheduling of their loans and stated, "We will not allow cherry picking as there should be a uniform criteria for all the companies."
On the issue of biometric policy to open and operate a bank account and difficulties in this regard faced by the senior citizens and the disabled, the committee decided that a standard form is necessary for opening of bank account with two options with first one of a thumb impression and if it is not readable then NADRA verification should be considered.
Senator Muzaffar Hussain Shah, who was elected in the March 3 Senate elections, also narrated his ordeal in getting his account opened for contesting elections before the committee. He stated that as per requirements, he was needed to open a separate bank account for election-specific expenditure.
Hussain said that the lines on his thumb became either erased or were unreadable, and the bank refused to open his account. The Senator-elect further stated that bank manager stated that there were clear instructions to open a bank account after a biometric verification.