SC orders for Dar’s return

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday summoned former finance minister Ishaq Dar for May 8 and hinted at issuing his arrest warrants if he failed to comply with the order.

A three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, heard a petition filed by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Nawazish Pirzada against the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) verdict allowing Dar to submit his nomination papers for the Senate elections.

The court rejected the medical certificate of Ishaq Dar, submitted by his counsel Salman Aslam Butt. During the course of hearing, the CJ asked the counsel about the whereabouts of his client. Salman Butt replied that he was abroad and unwell. The CJ observed that the former finance minister could not remain ill for long. He has already been declared an absconder by an accountability court in a corruption reference.

The chief justice remarked that Prime Minister (Shahid Khaqan Abbasi) held a meeting with an absconder (Ishaq Dar) in London recently. “Perhaps, the PM does not know that he (Dar) is an absconder,” remarked the chief justice.

The CJ asked the counsel to submit a reply on behalf of his client, saying they would be available in the chamber until 8pm. The chief justice recalled that the court had issued a notice to Dar with the direction that he must ensure his appearance under any circumstances. Salman Butt contended that he would have to contact his client as to whether he was appearing before the court.

“You may confirm as to whether he is coming or not, as we will be available until 8pm in chambers,” the CJ told Butt. The CJ said if Ishaq Dar appears before the court, he may be granted protective bail. Later, Salman Butt appeared beforethe court and submitted that Ishaq Dar was ill and could not travel for eight months. Therefore, he might be given sufficient time to appear before the court. The court, however, rejected the counsel’s plea and directed Dar to appear before the court on May 8.

Last year in February, an appellate election tribunal of Lahore High Court granted Ishaq Dar permission to contest election for Senate, after setting aside the order of Returning Officer, who had rejected his nomination papers. Petitioner Nawabzada Nawazish Ali of Pakistan People’s Party had claimed in his petition that Ishaq Dar had been declared an absconder by a court, hence he could not contest elections.

But the high court permitted Ishaq Dar to contest the election and consequently, he won a Senate seat as a PML-N backed independent candidate recently held.