Reference against Dar: Defence lawyer, judge exchange harsh words

ISLAMABAD: The indictment of three co-accused persons in a supplementary reference against Senator Ishaq Dar was once again deferred on Tuesday, as the legal counsel for one of the accused, Syed Mansoor Raza Rizvi, allegedly misbehaved with the accountability court judge and exchanged harsh words after his application for adjournment was dismissed.

The counsel for Rizvi is the incumbent president of Islamabad High Court Bar Association, Syed Javed Akbar Shah. Later, the judge, Muhammad Bashir, issued show-cause notice to Shah and issued non-bailable arrest warrant for Rizvi – who walked out of the courtroom with his counsel – and adjourned further hearing till April 5. The court issued arrest warrant for Rizvi at the request of NAB prosecutor Imran Shafique who argued that the accused persons were using delaying tactics.

In the supplementary corruption reference for assets beyond known sources of income, National Bank President Saeed Ahmed, Rizvi [Dar’s employee since 1991] and Naeem Mehmood are the co-accused.

The judge noted that the Supreme Court had directed the court to conclude the trial within extended three months period, adding that a month had already been passed but the accused could not be indicted yet.

At the start of proceedings, Shah in an aggressive manner asked the court to allow his adjournment application. As the judge inquired why, the counsel replied that his paternal aunt had passed away and he had to go there.

Due to harsh behaviour, the court dismissed the application, to which the counsel said it could not be rejected like that. Then the judge warned the lawyer that he was misbehaving with the court, but the lawyer replied, “What can you do? Will you shoot me or send to jail?” and left the courtroom with his client in anguish.

Later, the lawyer, talking to media said the court dismissed his adjournment application despite the fact he informed that his close relative had passed away and he had to attend the funeral.