Four more witnesses testify against Dar

During Monday’s hearing, the prosecution presented four witnesses, their statements were recorded

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Monday recorded the statements of four more witnesses in a reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) against former finance minister Ishaq Dar whom the court has recently declared a proclaimed offender.

Judge Muhammad Bashir also dismissed an application of an advocate requesting the court to allow him to represent Dar as his counsel in the case.

The first witness Faisal Shahzad submitted details of the account belonging to Dar’s wife, Tabassum Ishaq Dar while the second witness, the director (budget) of the National Assembly Sher Dil Khan, informed the court that Dar was elected from NA-95 (Lahore) in 1993 and his monthly salary was Rs14,000.



Third witness, the deputy secretary cabinet division Wasif Hussain, provided the record pertaining to Dar’s appointment on different posts. He also provided the notifications of Dar’s appointment as federal minister and on other key posts he held.

The fourth witness, director, Ministry of Commerce, Qamar Zaman, provided details pertaining to Dar’s salary, local TADA and allowances.

During the hearing, the NAB investigation officer informed the court over the progress in connection with the attachment of moveable properties of Dar’s surety giver, Ahmed Ali Quddusi. He said NAB had sent letters to the relevant departments and was awaiting a reply.



On December 11, Judge Bashir had ordered to attach moveable properties of the surety giver for failing to produce Dar before the court.

The court order had revealed that Ahmad Ali Quddusi “stood surety out of benevolence and the accused is beyond his reach”.

Meanwhile, Dar has challenged before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) several orders of the accountability court through which the court issued bailable and non-bailable warrants of arrest and later declared him a proclaimed offender.

The counsel has requested to set aside the orders of November 11, December 11 and all preceding orders through which the court issued bailable and non-bailable warrants of arrest and later declared him a proclaimed offender within 10 days.