ISLAMABAD: An accountability court in Islamabad cancelled the arrest warrant for Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the asset beyond means case on Friday.

The court asked the finance minister to submit surety bonds worth Rs1 million.

An Islamabad accountability court last year in May issued a perpetual arrest warrant for Dar in a corruption reference.

Dar appeared in front of the court with his lawyer Qazi Misbah. Judge Muhammad Bashir presided over the hearing of the case.

“Ishaq Dar has appeared in front of the court. Now the arrest warrants must be cancelled forever,” the lawyer said.

Judge Bashir asked that did the accountability watchdog have issued an arrest warrant for Dar.

The NAB prosecutor said that a warrant was issued, however, it was suspended. To this, the finance minister’s lawyer said that the warrant was only issued the suspect was presented before the court.

The prosecutor said that NAB has decided to not object to Dar’s request for cancelling the warrant, adding that the finance minister has appeared before the court.

To this, the court cancelled the warrant. Dar also filed a petition seeking an exemption from the hearing of the case. The court said that the finance minister had to appear in front of the court for indictment.

Dar also challenged the seizure of property and said that the court had seized the property by issuing an arrest warrant in absentia. But after the court appearance, it should be ended.

The court issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau on both petitions and adjourned the hearing of the case till October 12.

Case background

The national graft buster filed an asset beyond means reference against Dar on September 8, 2017. Later, the accountability court indicted Dar on September 27, 2017.

The court issued a permanent arrest warrant for Dar on December 11, 2017, declaring him an absconder because he was abroad.

Dar returned to Pakistan last month with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after living for five years in self-exile in London.