ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Monday set September 27 as the date to indict Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in connection with investigations against him for the accumulation of assets and funds beyond known sources of income.
The court, while supplying copies of the reference and other material consisting of 23 volumes to Dar, said it intended to conduct day-to-day hearing in the reference to conclude the trial within the stipulated time.
Upon being requested by the counsel to extend time for framing of charges (indictment) as bulk of record has to be perused, Judge Muhammad Bashir quipped, “will you plead guilty when charges would be framed?”
In compliance with the earlier issued bailable arrest warrants, Dar’s counsel submitted bonds worth Rs1 million. Further, the court ordered the federal minister to submit Rs5 million to ensure his presence in the trial.
The court will resume hearing on September 27 when charges will be framed against Dar.
Talking to reporters after the hearing, Dar’s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz said that disqualification is not mandatory when a holder of public office is being tried in a criminal case.
“There is no bar under any law of the country that any holder of public office if tried under criminal charges stands disqualified or he cannot retain that office,” he said.
Last week, the accountability court issued bailable arrest warrants against Dar.
During the previous court hearing on September 20, the federal minister didn’t appear before the court following which his bailable arrest warrant was issued.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had also raided his house and frozen his assets.
The Supreme Court had directed NAB to prepare references against the Sharif family regarding Al-Azizia Steel Mill, London flats and 16 offshore companies.
A reference against Dar was also directed to be prepared for having assets more than he had declared.
Dar, along with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had returned to Pakistan from the UK on Sunday night.
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