Ishaq Dar fails to turn up before NAB for fourth time, departs for Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday departed for Saudi Arabia accompanying with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi after shunning the fourth subpoena by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to turn up before its investigators for a probe into his assets and funds in compliance with Supreme Court’s orders, ARY News reported.

It was the fourth summon which the finance minister had declined in span of two weeks by avoiding a grilling session with the anti-graft body.

NAB had subpoenaed Dar along with ousted PM Nawaz Sharif’s cousin Tariq Shafi. However, the finance minister early today left for Saudi Arabia alongside PM Abbasi.

According to informed sources, the accountability bureau is unlikely to summon the finance minister in future and likely to report the appointed judge – Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan – instead with regard to ongoing investigation against Dar.

The anti-corruption watchdog on Wednesday had summoned Dar, his sons Ali and Mujtaba, wife, daughter-in-law Asma Dar along with their bank accounts’ statements to appear before its investigators.

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On the flip side, NAB had sought details from Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and various banks pertaining to financial records of Dar family members. It had requested SECP for the records of Dar’s companies in a letter to chairman SECP on August 15.

SECP submits records of companies owned by Dar family members

The SECP on Wednesday has reportedly submitted records of companies owned by family members of Ishaq Dar in NAB’s Lahore office.

The records were sought by NAB’s combined investigation team to probe into Dar’s assets in compliance with the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict.

The records of seven companies owned by Dar family members were submitted to NAB by Joint Director SECP Ali Adnan. These companies include CNG Pakistan, Spencer Distribution Limited, Hajveri Holdings, Gulf Insurance, HDS Securities, Spencer Pharmacy and Hajveri Modaraba Management. The company records include Form 21, Form 29, certificates of incorporation and Memorandum of Associations.