Accountability Court frames charges against Ishaq Dar

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The accountability court (AC) has on Wednesday indicted Finance Minister Ishaq Dar over graft allegations after authorities found he had assets that did not match his reported income. Ishaq Dar appeared before the court and the AC judge Mohammad Bashir resumed hearing of the reference against the finance minister. The Judge of the Court, Muhammad Bashir read out the charges during hearing, however, Ishaq Dar, who was present in the court, denied the charges. Strict security measures were made around the federal judicial complex, while entry of media persons and lawyers was banned. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed a reference against Ishaq Dar for having assets beyond his sources of income. A 91 percent increase was observed in his assets in a short period of time. The accused was summoned to joint investigation but he did not appear citing a review petition against the Panamagate verdict in the Supreme Court, the reference stated. Dar and his family possess assets worth Rs 839 billion, the reference said. Dar was swept up in the corruption case stemming from documents leaked from a Panama law firm, which appeared to show that senior officials, including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, had undisclosed assets. Under Pakistan's laws, Dar can continue to work as a minister until he is found guilty. However, opposition leaders have asked him to resign on moral grounds. Dar has close familial ties to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was disqualified from holding office by the Supreme Court for concealing his financial assets in July.