Court reserves verdict on plea for selling Ishaq Dar's assets

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court here on Monday reserved its verdict on a plea of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seeking its permission to auction the seized assets of former finance minister Ishaq Dar.

Judge Muhammad Bashir reserved the verdict after hearing arguments from the defence and prosecution sides and is likely to pronounce the verdict later today.

The NAB had moved the application before the ATC judge, requesting him to allow it to auction the PML-N leader’s assets over his inability to appear in court to face trial in a case filed against him for allegedly accumulating assets beyond his known sources of income.

A NAB prosecutor contended that the accused is obliged by law to contact within six months of the seizure of his assets. If no objection is raised by the accused within the given time, then the property is sold, he added.

He said Dar has not yet raised any objection to the assets having been seized.

Earlier this month, the British government turned down a request by Pakistan to deport Ishaq Dar who is said to be undergoing treatment in London.

The UK authorities said there is no extradition treaty between Islamabad and London for the exchange of  wanted criminals, therefore, the request of Pakistan to deport its former finance minister stands rejected.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan had directed the authorities concerned to continue to take measures for the repatriation of former finance minister Ishaq Dar.

Dar’s diplomatic as well as normal passports have already been cancelled and he doesn’t have any travel documents at present.