NAB asks government to place Dar's name on ECL

National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday asked the Ministry of Interior to place the name of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on exit control list (ECL) after an accountability court issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him. An official of NAB said that following the issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants against Dar by the accountability court, the NAB has requested Ministry of Interior to place Dar's name on the no fly list.
Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir on November 14 issued non-bailable arrest warrants against Dar over his continuous failure to appear before the court in a reference regarding possessing assets beyond known sources of income. The court also issued notice to Dar's guarantor Ahmad Quddusi. The court also asked Quddusi that surety bonds of Dar would be confiscated if he fails to appear before the court on the next hearing to be held on November 21.
As per ECL policy, the Ministry of Interior places names on ECL on the recommendations of the Supreme Court, High Court, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and NAB. Meanwhile, the accountability court issued a written order regarding issuance of non-bailable arrest warrants against Dar. The court's order comprises three pages.
According to it, an application for exemption from attendance of the accused is filed with a contention that a period of three to six weeks is required by the doctor to take a final decision about the condition of the accused. It is noteworthy here that no fresh medical report about the latest position of the accused is attached with the application.
The order further said the defence counsel has contended that a vein of heart of the accused ruptured and he was admitted to a hospital, but no such report is annexed with the application filed for exemption of the accused from appearance in the court.
The investigation officer submitted this report seeking non-bailable arrest warrants be issued against the accused, wherein he inter alia contended that the accused has knowingly and deliberately insulated himself against proceedings and process of law and he has absconded.
The prosecutor has contended that bailable warrants of arrest were issued against the accused on October 30, 2017, November 2, 2017 and November 8, 2017, even notices were issued to the surety to produce the accused.
The accused has not been appearing since October 30, 2017. Two medico-legal reports were submitted. The latest one was issued by Ranjit Deshande MS, MCH, FRCS (C.Th/Eng), consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, dated November 6, 2017. Previously, a medico-legal report was issued by Dr Christopher Baker.
The defence counsel has contended that he will file a request on part of the accused in respect of appointment of pleader on the next date. The said request will be considered on the next date in the light of prevailing law of the country.
The order also said that sufficient opportunity for appearance had been afforded to the accused. Previously he had submitted a medical report for angiography. The medical report under discussion is about his ailment caused by Ischemic heart disease. It shows that two different types of medical reports of two doctors are produced and no medical report about latest position of the accused is produced. Therefore, the application submitted for exemption of accused form personal appearance is not entertainable. The accused is not appearing before the court deliberately. Thus the application stands dismissed. Non-bailable arrest warrants are issued against the accused.
The surety, namely Ahmed Ali Quddusi, has submitted an application for extension in time to produce the accused. The notice issued by this court to surety for production of the accused was not personally served and it is reported that he/surety had gone to Dubai on November 9, 2017 and returned back on November 17, 2017.
In the view of facts that surety was not aware of the notice, he is directed again to produce the accused on date fixed otherwise, his bond shall be forfeited in favour of the state and further proceedings shall be initiated within the meaning of section 514 CrPC.