Govt seizes Dar’s assets, talks underway for extradition

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ISLAMABAD: The government informed the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday that it had seized former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s property in Pakistan and was also making efforts to extradite him.

The additional attorney general was updating the court on the progress in the case a day after an accountability court asked the Punjab government to confiscate three plots owned by Dar, his spouse Tabassum and son Ali Mustafa.

Dar has been declared an absconder in a reference pertaining to his assets.

“NAB has confiscated the properties,” the additional attorney general told the SC, adding that “talks are being held with the UK government for Dar’s arrest.”

Following the attorney general’s remarks, the case’s hearing was adjourned for an indefinite period.

A day earlier, Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir, in his order issued on an application of NAB regarding confiscation of three more plots of Dar, had said that the plots had been placed at the disposal of the provincial government within the meaning of Section 88(7) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

“The investigation officer is directed to inform the provincial government concerned in this regard,” he ordered.

NAB special prosecutor Mohammad Imran Shafique had further informed the accountability court that the two vehicles — Mercedes Benz and Land Cruiser — could not be taken into possession as these were yet to be traced.

Last month, during the hearing of a case related to non-appearance of Dar before the apex court, the SC had asked the government departments concerned to find a way of getting the former finance minister extradited so that he could be produced in court.

The court has already suspended the notification declaring Dar a senator-elect over his failure to appear before it despite repeated summons.