ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday discarded a plea submitted by Senator Ishaq Dar seeking suspension of a declaration as proclaimed offender by the accountability court in a graft reference against him filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in compliance of the Supreme Court’s landmark July 28 verdict.
According to the NAB reference, the accused had acquired assets and pecuniary interests/resources in his name or in the name of his dependents of an approximate amount of Rs831.678 million as per the investigation conducted so far.
A two-judge bench of IHC, comprising Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb, heard the plea
During the court proceedings today, Justice Athar Minaullah said the country has reliable medical facilities and skilful cardiologists. He asked whether Ishaq Dar does not have faith in the local doctors.
To which, Dar’s counsel contended that the constitution grants this right to his client to get treatment from a doctor of his choice. He also submitted a medical report.
On the occasion, Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb said it apparently seemed the medical report has been drafted at the whims of the former finance minister.
The bench also ended its stay order on the accountability proceedings against Dar.
The anti-corruption watchdog has nominated Dar in a graft reference for possessing the assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Last hearing
Earlier, Dar moved the high court through his counsel, alleging that the accountability judge Muhammad Bashir declared him a proclaimed offender without fulfilling the mandatory requirements.
He pointed out that the trial court started the process of confiscation of his properties a few days after the issuance of proclamation. However, the law requires the court to start this process at least 30 days after publication of proclamation.
The former finance minister had requested the court to declare the trial court’s order of pronouncing him proclaimed offender as illegal and void.
Meanwhile, the bench extended its stay order, restraining the authorities concerned from attaching movable property of Ishaq Dar’s guarantor Ahmed Ali Quddusi for one day.
On December 11, the Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir had ordered to attach movable properties of the surety giver over his failure to ensure Dar’s presence in court.
