Former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s Lahore residence and the money deposited in his bank accounts have been given under the custody of the Punjab government, according to the report of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) submitted in the accountability court on Wednesday.
The seizure of Dar’s assets was ordered after he failed to appear before the accountability court in a case pertaining to accumulation of assets beyond known sources of income.
Investigation officer Nadir Abbas submitted report on seizure of assets, in which it has been stated that National Accountability Bureau had provided details on Dar’s accounts to the Punjab government.
According to the report, the accounts belonging to Dar and his companies hold more than Rs 500.8 million that have been seized by the Punjab government.
Moreover, the provincial government has also seized Dar’s house in Gulberg 3, Lahore, while six acres in Malot, Islamabad was sold before investigation into the case began, the report further stated.
Three plots belonging to Dar in a housing society were also seized on court orders in December 2017.
Dar’s house was also raided for his vehicles to be impounded but none were there, therefore, search for them was under way, according to the NAB report.
The court would be informed on further progress in the case once Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan submits its report on the shares of Dar and his wife.
A reference against the former finance minister was filed by NAB in light of the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case.
Dar had earlier been declared a proclaimed offender by the accountability court due to his continuous absence from the proceedings.
In November 2017, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had accepted Dar’s request to be relieved of his duties as the finance minister.
Published in Daily Times, September 11th 2018.
