RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Accountability Court hearing a corruption reference against former finance minister Ishaq Dar was informed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigation officer (IO) on Wednesday that the main suspect had owned a house in Guberg Lahore before his entry into politics.

The Accountability Court Judge Muhammad Bashir while hearing the case was informed by IO Nadir Abbas that Dar had a house in Gulberg Lahore before joining politics. During the cross-examination by the defense counsel Qazi Misbah, the IO said that Dar purchased three plots in Alfalah Housing Society through installments between 2004 and 2009, adding that the co-accused Mansoor Raza Rizvi and Naeem Mehmood, both directors of Dar’s companies, did not deposit the installments of these plots. He further told the court that no co-accused has been found involved in purchase of six acres of land in Islamabad.

He said that Bureau found no evidence of involvement of any co-accused in Dar’s foreign properties. The anti-graft body had filed a supplementary reference against Dar on February 26 last year. The reference comprises seven volumes and includes 24 witnesses and three co-accused namely former president of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) Saeed Ahmed, Mansoor Raza Rizvi and Naeem Mehmood, both directors of Dar’s companies. During the hearing, the two co-accused were present in the courtroom while Saeed filed an exemption application which the court approved. The court adjourned hearing of the case till November 13 and the defense counsel would continue cross-examination of the IO on the next hearing.