The Accountability Court hearing a corruption reference against former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday sought reply from National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Dar's application for reopening Hajveri Trust's bank account, besides summoning four more witnesses.
When Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir resumed the hearing of the reference against Dar for possessing assets beyond known means, NAB Prosecutor Imran Shafiq informed him that Islamabad High Court (IHC) has dismissed Dar's petition, challenging issuance of his arrest warrants and declaration as proclaimed offender by the Accountability Court on December 20 last. The IHC has directed the Accountability Court to continue proceedings of corruption reference filed against Dar, he further told the court.
Shafiq informed the court that statements of 10 witnesses, out of 28, have been recorded so far. He requested the court to conduct hearing of the reference on daily basis.
However, the court adjourned the hearing of the case till January 22 and summoned more four witnesses. Moreover, the court adjourned proceedings on Dar's application filed to reopen seized bank accounts of Hajveri Trust, till January 24. The court directed the NAB prosecutor to submit response on Dar's plea during the next hearing. Dar through his counsels Qausain Faisal Mufti and Qazi Misbah-ul-Hassan on January 10 submitted an application with the Accountability Court seeking approval for operating Hajveri Trust's bank account.
As per the applicant, the Trust is taking care of 93 orphans and if it is not allowed to operate its bank's account, the orphans will suffer. The Accountability Court on December 11, 2017 had declared Dar a proclaimed offender and ordered for attachment of his properties.
On November 14, the NAB had filed an application before the court seeking freezing of Dar's two properties that were in the names of Hajveri Trust and Hajveri Foundation. The NAB in its application had said that the two properties are managed by Dar and his wife.