Dar's seventh hearing in graft cases adjourned till 30th

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday filed an application in the accountability court, seeking endorsement of its chief Javed Iqbal's decision to freeze assets of the finance minister. 

In the plea, filed by NAB prosecutor Imran Shafiq, the court was informed that the NAB chief had ordered to freeze assets of the finance minister in a reference pertaining to owning assets beyond known sources of income.

Earlier in the day, the accountability court resumed hearing of three graft cases against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

Prosecution's first witness Abdur Rehman Gondal, an employee of a private bank, recorded his statement before the court.

The witness also submitted details of Dar's account at a private bank located in the Parliament House. He told the court that the account was opened on March 25, 2005. 

Gondal informed the court that he first appeared before the NAB's investigation officer on August 17 this year.

The court had made the bank transaction details, provided by Gondal, part of case record. 

Dar's counsel Khawaja Harris cross-examined Gondal.

Prosecutions' second witness Masood Ghani, an operation manager at a private bank, also gave his testimony.

He submitted to the court details of a bank account held by the finance minister.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing until October 30. 

Today was Dar's seventh appearance before Accountability Judge Mohammad Bashir.

Previous hearing 

In the last hearing held on Oct 18, the court had adjourned the proceedings owing to absence of the Dar’s counsel.

Earlier, the accountability court had indicted Dar last month in a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference pertaining to his owning assets "beyond his known sources of income”.