Ishaq Dar confirms date of his return to Pakistan

LONDON: Former finance minister and PML-N leader Ishaq Dar confirmed the date of his return to Pakistan while speaking to The News on Friday.

Dar said he has decided to return to Pakistan before October 7, 2022.

“I will take the membership oath of the Senate after my return to Pakistan,” he said, adding that he will land in the country toward the end of next week.

Dar, when addressing rumours regarding him replacing Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, said that he will perform whatever duty is assigned to him by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

He revealed that PM Shahbaz will return to London after attending the United Nations General Assembly summit being held in New York.

“I will adhere to whatever is decided after consultations with Shehbaz and Nawaz,” he shared.

Earlier today, an accountability court in the federal capital suspended the arrest warrants of the former finance minister till October 7 in a case pertaining to him being a proclaimed offender.

Commenting on the court’s decision, Dar said that he will have to return before that.

Accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir issued the orders today and directed the authorities to not arrest the ex-federal minister — who is currently in London — upon his arrival in Pakistan.

The judge said that once Dar returns to Pakistan, the court will see whether it should revoke his arrest orders or not.

"The arrest warrants will be permanently suspended once Dar appears before the court in person," the judge said.

The politician moved to accountability court on Thursday after the Supreme Court dismissed Dar's appeal in a corruption case following his decision to withdraw the plea.

In 2017, an accountability court, while hearing a corruption reference against Dar, declared him a proclaimed offender due to his continued absence from the proceedings.