The district authorities in Punjab transferred over Rs 500 million from former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s accounts to the provincial government, according to media reports.
The step was taken in line with directives issued by an accountability court in Islamabad. The court ordered authorities to auction off movable and immovable assets of the former finance minister and sealed his bank accounts. Dar was accused in an assets beyond income case and was declared a proclaimed offender after he did not appear in court despite repeated summons.
It is worth mentioning that the accountability court had ruled in a petition filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) seeking the sale of Dar’s assets and had asked the court to appoint a ‘recipient’ who would collect and deposit the amount in state treasury.
Lahore’s deputy commissioner had sent notices to banks for the transfer and the district authorities then sent the amount to Punjab government through three pay orders.
The details submitted by NAB show ownership of six bank accounts in Lahore and Islamabad, 13 assets in Pakistan and seven assets abroad. Dar’s asset list included two Mercedes Benz vehicles, three Land Cruisers, one of which is co-owned by his wife and a Corolla.
Former finance ministers other properties include a two-kanal plot in the Parliament Enclave, another two-kanal plot with Ayaz Builders (Pvt) Ltd, six-acre land in Mauza Milot, a plot in Mauza Bhubtian and another plot in Senate Cooperative Housing Society. His wife is named co-owner of the six-acre land.
In Lahore, Dar owns a house in Gulberg and three plots in Alfalah Housing Society – co-owned by his wife and son. The assets located abroad include apartments at Emirates Hill and Jumeirah in Dubai. He also owns a Bentley Arnage, a Mercedes and have two investments in Baraq Holding (Pvt) Ltd and one investment in Dar al Nahayan (Pvt) Ltd.
The details further show Dar and his wife have made investment of Rs3,453,060 in Hajveri Holding (Pvt) Ltd and Rs2,700 in the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd.
Published in Daily Times, November 28th 2018.
