ISLAMABAD: An accountability Court (AC) of Islamabad Wednesday adjourned hearing of a NAB reference against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar till October 23, due to absence of his counsel Khawaja Harris.

AC Judge Muhammad Bashir took up the reference for hearing against Ishaq Dar regarding assets beyond known sources of income filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in compliance of Supreme Court orders in Panama papers case.

The Finance Minister appeared for the sixth time before the accountability court with foolproof security arrangements in place.

During hearing, Dar?s legal team informed the judge that team head Khawaja Harris was abroad and unable to attend the proceeding today. They said the court could record the statements of the witnesses who were summoned during last hearing.

They, however, said cross examine with these witnesses could be done in presence of Khawaja Harris after his return from abroad.

On which, the judge said the cross-examine could be made on the same day when the witnesses were testified. The legal team can make cross-examine if the court testifies the witnesses.

Harris junior counsels adopted the stance that they have no permission to conduct cross-examine with the witnesses.

The court was expected to record the statements of two more prosecution witnesses today including Masood Ghani of Habib Bank and Abdul Rahman Gondal of Allied Bank.

The NAB prosecutor countered that Harris is not committed to the case but the junior counsel disagreed and pleaded the judge to have the witnesses' statements recorded.

The court, however, adjourned hearing of the case till October 23 and directed the two witnesses to appear again on Monday.

Meanwhile, the court ordered that only 50 people including 15 mediamen could be allowed in court room during hearing of references against Sharif family members and Ishaq Dar. He asked the respondents to provide list of their nominated people to grant entry permission.

It may be mentioned here that during last hearings the court has recorded the statements of Ishtiaq Ali of Bank Alfalah, Shahid Aziz National Investment Trust and Tariq Javed of Al Baraka Bank. The counsel for Mr. Dar Khawaja Harris had completed his cross-examining with the witnesses.

On which the court had summoned two more witnesses to testify.—APP