ISLAMABAD: The accountability court that is hearing a corruption reference filed against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in light of the Supreme Court’s Panama Case Verdict has decided to declared the minister as a proclaimed offender due to continuous non appearance at the judicial complex.
Proceedings resumed with a slight delay on Tuesday due to late showing up of the defence counsel, the minister’s counsel submitted his clients third medical report and pleaded before the judge to grant Dar an exemption from the hearing.
According to the medical report, one of Dar’s arteries is not functioning properly and minister is set to have another medical examination on November 29.
The counsel also asked the court to appoint a pleader upon the finance ministers behalf so normal proceedings could resume.
NAB prosecutor Imran Shafique while opposing the plea, requested the accountability court begin the procedure of declaring the minister as a proclaimed offender in the case.
Accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir announced on Tuesday the process of declaring the finance minister as a proclaimed offender would begin after rejecting Dar’s counsels exemption plea.
The hearing was then adjourned till December 4.
The process of declaration of a proclaimed offender begins with advertisement publications regarding the offender in the press, notice postings at prominent places instructing the accused to appear in court within a set 30 day time limit, and seizure of his/her assets.
It is pertinent to mention here that Ishaq Dar has skipped the last four hearings regarding this case on behalf of ‘receiving’ medical treatment in London.
