FAZAL SHER

ISLAMABAD: An Accountability Court Monday recorded the statements of four more prosecution witnesses in a corruption reference filed against former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for possessing assets beyond known sources of income.

While hearing corruption reference against Dar, Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir recorded the statements of Deputy Secretary Cabinet Division Wasif Hussain, Deputy Director Commerce Qamar Zaman, Director National Assembly Sher Dil Khan and an official of a private bank Faisal Shehzad.

Director National Assembly Sher Dil Khan while recording his statement provided details about Dar’s different portfolios he has held since early 1990s. He told the court that Dar had first become a member of the National Assembly in 1993 from NA-95 Lahore seat. He remained an MNA till November 04, 1996, he said. He said Dar was receiving a salary of Rs14,000 a month as a member of the National Assembly. He said whenever anyone becomes a member of National Assembly, payment of salary starts to him.

He said that in 1997, Dar was elected as MNA from NA-97 for the second time and on February 5, 1997, he became minister. He further told the court that on June 25, 1997 Dar’s assumed charge of head of Board of Investment. Khan further told the court that Dar was appointed as minister of commerce on July 11, 1997.

The prosecution witness further told the court that Dar had been given the portfolio of federal minister for finance and revenue. Two years later, he said that on October 16, 1999, former President Pervez Musharraf came into power and then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was removed from his office.

Similarly, on October 16, 1999 the whole cabinet was dissolved. He said that on March 31, 2008, Dar had become minister for finance, revenue, economic affairs and statistics. Dar’s resignation as minister for finance, revenue, economic affairs and statistics had been accepted on September 13, 2008, he said.

In 2013, Dar was made the minister for finance, revenue, economic affairs and statistics. He was also given the responsibilities of privatization, Khan told the court.

On July 28, 2017, Nawaz was disqualified by the Supreme Court and the whole cabinet was dissolved. On August 4, 2017 he was again made the minister for finance, revenue, economic affairs and statistics, he said. The prosecution witness also told the court that the copies and original notifications of Dar’s appointments and removals are available.

He said that he had forwarded the copies of required documents to Additional Director Staff NAB Lahore, Rana Mehmood Ali and later he appeared before Investigation Officer Nadir Abbas.

While recording his statement before the court, prosecution witness Qamar Zaman provided details of Dar’s salary, local TA/DA and allowances that the accused received as member of National Assembly, Senate and as a federal minister.

The third witness Wasif Hussain also recorded his statement presenting details of Dar’s appointment as minister and other portfolios. While recording his statement, an official of private bank Faisal Shehzad provided details of bank accounts of Dar’s wife Tabassum Dar to the court.

The court after recording the statements of four witnesses adjourned the hearing till December 21. The NAB investigation officer presented report before the court regarding confiscation of the properties of Dar’s guarantor over his failure to produce him (Dar) before the court.

The NAB official informed the court that he has written letters to officials concerned for confiscation of properties of Dar’s guarantor and they have to receive reply of these letters yet, he said.

Meanwhile, the court rejected Advocate Qazi Misbah’s plea to become Dar’s lawyer.