ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court resumed hearing the corruption references case against finance minister Ishaq Dar as per schedule.
As the hearing resumed around noon, Ishaq Dar’s counsel Khawaja Harris finally appeared in court and argued for his client’s exemption from the hearing just for today because of official duties.
The NAB prosecutor, however, stated that the accused should relieve himself of his “responsibilities” and his focus should primarily be being ‘present’ in the court’s premises for the hearings as the presence of the accused during the procedure of recording statements is mandatory.
Mohammad Bashir the judge hearing the references case against the finance minister remarked that he will decide on the exemption plea later on and initiated court proceedings.
Senior PML-N officials and ministers were also present outside the Accountability Court.
Earlier on Monday
The Accountability Court on Monday postponed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s hearing regarding corruption until noon owing to the absence of Khawaja Harris (Dar’s counsel).
The assets case reference hearing began on Monday morning, according to schedule with the finance minister making his expected appearance under tight security but due to the absence of Dar’s counsel, the judge adjourned the hearing till noon, instructing the minister to appear before court with his counsel.
The judge also rejected Ishaq Dar’s plea to be excused from today’s hearing, but the judge rejected this and stated that the accused needs to be present in court when the witnesses are recording their statements.
Tight security was in place in and around the judicial complex with Frontier Constabulary and police personnel on duty for the hearing.
National Accountability Bureau’s fourth witness, Habib Bank’s Masood Ghani will record his statements in the accountability court today, followed by a cross examination by the minister’s counsel.
This is Dar’s fifth appearance in Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir’s court.
