ISLAMABAD: The accountability court hearing graft references against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar issued non-bailable warrants after the minister failed to appear in Tuesday’s hearing.
Moreover, the court also issued a notice to Dar’s guarantor for failing to ensure presence of the accused in the court.
As the court proceedings went underway, Judge Muhammad Bashir asked Dar’s guarantor Ahmad Ali Qudoosi when Dar will appear before the court. Qudoosi responded that Dar remains in London for heart treatment, and requires at least three to six weeks to fully recover from the ailment.
The court after a brief adjournment of the hearing issued non-bailable warrants for Dar’s arrest.
Subsequently, the hearing was adjourned till Nov 21.
Dar has not attended the previous three hearings, claiming that he is under medical treatment in London. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a graft reference against the minister for possessing assets disproportionate to his declared sources of income.
The accountability court on Nov 8 had dismissed Dar’s plea seeking exemption from personal appearance and ordered his guarantor to appear in person and ensure that Dar also appears before the court at the next hearing in connection with the graft case against him.
The court had also upheld the bailable arrest warrants previously issued against Dar and doubled the surety ordered against the warrants from Rs1 million to 2m.
