NAB allowed filing supplementary reference against Dar

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court (AC) here on Wednesday allowed National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a supplementary corruption reference against Ishaq Dar after a NAB prosecutor Imran Shafique told the court that the bureau got some new information pertaining to Dar's assets.

NAB also filed two supplementary references in Flagship and Azizia corruption references pending adjudication against Nawaz Sharif and his family. With the supplementary references, now the number of references has gone from four to eight collectively against Sharif family and Ishaq Dar. With each main corruption reference, now there is one supplementary reference as well.

As far as Dar is concerned, NAB prosecutor told the AC that the supplementary reference is not final yet and it will take time to complete the process for approval. Supplementary reference will be based on new incriminating material NAB prosecutor told.

NAB in its application said that the supplementary reference has been duly recommended for approval by the regional bureau and it is under process for approval of NAB chairman. The prosecution aims to bring on record the entire incriminating material through supplementary reference, applicant NAB also said. NAB prayed the court to allow filing of supplementary reference that court allowed and put of in this matter for Feb 23.

In the corruption reference against Ishaq Dar, 28 out of 30 prosecution witnesses have recorded their statements. Today's hearing NAB investigation officer in this particular reference, Nadir Abbas had to record his testimony but NAB prosecution told that the statement would be recorded after filing of the supplementary corruption reference.

It is to mention here that AC is recording evidence in this matter under section 512 of the criminal procedure code (CrPC) in the absence of the accused persons since court on December 11 had declared Dar a proclaimed offender and later ordered for the attachment of his properties. Meanwhile, AC dismissed an application filed by Dar through his counsel Qusain Faisal Mufti raising objections over an order of the court for attachment of his properties. It is to mention here that NAB had filed applications seeking confirmation of the freezing/attaching of Dar's moveable and immoveable properties. AC in December last year had allowed NAB to attach these properties. Dar's counsel had contended that his client has not been provided with an opportunity of defense in this matter.

Ishaq Dar is an accused in a corruption references by the title of Assets & Funds Beyond Known Sources of Income. In the reference NAB has alleged that the accused Dar has acquired assets and pecuniary interests / resources in his own name and/or in the name of his dependants of an approximate amount of Rs831.678 million (approx).