UK Home Office’s questionnaire over Dar’s return forwarded to NAB

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday was informed that questions from the United Kingdom’s Home Office pertaining to the return of former finance minister Ishaq Dar to Pakistan had been forwarded to NAB and the bureau would answer them.

The apex court resumed hearing a case pertaining to the return of the former finance minister to Pakistan. During proceedings, the additional attorney general informed the court that a prisoner exchange agreement had been signed between Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

The additional attorney general added that following the agreement, UK’s Home Office had sent a questionnaire regarding Dar’s return to Pakistan. “This has been sent to NAB which will submit responses to the UK Home Office,” said the additional attorney general.

Chief Justice, Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that this process would take at least one month, adding that Dar could no longer use illness as an excuse. “He [Dar] says he will return to Pakistan when he is provided justice. Will he be provided justice?” the chief justice remarked.

Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan remarked that justice could not be provided long distance.

The apex court ordered NAB to respond to the UK Home Office questionnaire in one month and submit a report. 

The hearing of the case was adjourned till one month.

Dar who served as the finance minister during the previous PML-N government is accused of possessing assets disproportionate to his declared sources of income. A reference against the former finance minister was filed by the NAB in light of the Supreme Court's July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case.

Dar had earlier been declared a proclaimed offender by the accountability court due to his continuous absence from the proceedings.

Dar was declared an absconder in October last year when he failed to appear for a hearing due to undergoing medical treatment in London. 

In November 2017, then-prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had accepted Dar’s request to be relieved of his duties as the finance minister.