Ishaq Dar relieved of his duties as finance minister: sources

ISLAMABAD/LONDON: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has formally relieved Ishaq Dar of his duties as country’s finance minister, sources told ARY News on Wednesday.

“The Prime Minister is pleased to allow leave of absence to Mr. Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, with immediate effect in terms of sub-section (1) of section of Federal Ministers and Ministers for State Salaries, Allowances and Privileges Act 1975,” reads a notification issued by Cabinet Division.

Dar himself requested a leave of absence and asked to be relieved of his duties for three months.

It is pertinent to note here that according to the notification, Dar would remain a federal minister and only a leave of absence of three months has been granted to Dar.

An accountability court granted a request by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to initiate proceedings to declare Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as a proclaimed offender in the assets reference filed against him.

Dar, who is currently in London, skipped the earing despite issuance of non-bailable warrants for his arrest.

He has been accused of accumulating wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Last month, NAB had announced to re-investigate Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for alleged corruption in Hudaibiya Paper Mills reference in compliance with the orders of Supreme Court.

NAB said it would relaunch an investigation against Dar as an accused and his earlier position as an approver in the case had been terminated.

It merits mentioning here that Ishaq Dar, nominated as an accused, had become an approver in the case and made a revelation of his involvement in money laundering before the magistrate on April 25, 2000, in Hudaibiya Paper Mills reference.

Later, Dar retracted his statement and claimed the statement was gleaned under duress.