Accountability court declares Ishaq Dar absconder

The accountability court declared on Tuesday Finance Minister Ishaq Dar as an absconder due to his continuous failure to appear before the court and said that steps will be taken to declare the the minister a proclaimed offender within 10 days.

The court also rejected Dar's request to be represented by a pleader in his absence and adjourned the hearing till December 4. A notice was also issued by the court to Dar's bail guarantor, Ahmad Ali Qudoosi, asking him to submit a written response on November 24 on why Dar's surety bond of Rs5 million should not be confiscated, local media reported.

The hearing resumed on Tuesday after a slight delay due to the defence counsel Qausain Faisal Mufti's late entry. Dar's counsel Mufti, submitted to Judge Muhammad Bashir a medical report for his client dated November 16.

Dar, who is currently in London for medical treatment, had attempted to excuse himself from appearing in court citing his ill health. NAB prosecutor Imran Shafiq appealed the court to dismiss the application and initiate proceedings under section 87 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Corruption case: Hearing underway against Ishaq Dar

According to the medical reports, Dar will be having another medical checkup this month, as one of his arteries is not functioning properly. The doctor has specifically barred Dar from travelling, local media reported..

NAB prosecutor, however, raised objections, pointing out inconsistency in the two medical reports - one submitted earlier and one during the proceedings on Tuesday. He said the first report claimed Dar was suffering from heart disease and he had a history of the illness. However, the medical report submitted on Tuesday claimed otherwise. The reports said that the finance minister is experiencing certain symptoms that are being diagnosed.

The finance minister's counsel replied that Dar's medical reports had not been verified by NAB, despite courts orders and that the accountability body was afraid to verify as they will run out of things to say, local media reported. In answer, prosecutor Shafiq said that NAB had already written to the Foreign Office for verification of Dar's medical report.

Last week, after the court issued non-bailable warrants for Dar's arrest, NAB had recommended placing Dar on the exit control list.