ISLAMABAD: Ishaq Dar’s surety-giver Ahmed Ali Quddusi has submitted a reply in the accountability court in the hope that Dar’s bail is not seized.
Quddusi has sought three weeks’ time to bring the finance minister before the court.
The court had issued a notice to Quddusi, directing him to submit his response on Nov 24 and questioning why Dar’s surety bond of Rs5 million should not be seized.
The court also asked Quddusi to present his argument before the court on Nov 29.
Dar’s continuous absence from the accountability court hearing a corruption reference against him that was filed by National Accountability Bureau in compliance with Supreme Court’s verdict on July 28, resulted in the initiation of the process of declaring Dar a proclaimed offender on Tuesday. During the previous hearing of the case on Nov 21, Judge Muhammad Bashir had ordered NAB to initiate proceedings under section 87 of the Criminal Procedure Code and sought a report within 10 days.
Judge Bashir had dismissed repeated petitions filed by Dar’s counsel requesting exemption of his client from appearance and to appoint a legal representative on his behalf.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved Dar’s ‘medical leave’ on Wednesday, “relieving him off his duties of looking after the three divisions” of the Finance Ministry.
It is also anticipated that the PM is likely to announce a formal arrangement to run the economic affairs of the country, as the economy is faced with serious challenges including mounting external debt.