Pakistan FM Ishaq Dar appears before court in relation to Panama paper scandal

Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar today appeared before an accountability court here inconnection with the Panama Papers scandal and submitted surety bonds worth Rs 1 million to secure his bail.

The court, which is hearing graft cases filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on September 8 against ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his children and Dar, had issued a bailable arrest warrant against the minister onSeptember 20. Dar, 67, returned from London this morning along with Sharif who is expected to face corruption and money laundering charges in the Panama Papers scandal tomorrow.

Dar's lawyer deposited surety bonds worth Rs 1 million to avoid his arrest. The court, after a brief hearing, postponed the case of Dar till September 27 and asked him to appear again as he would be formally indicted by the prosecution in a corruption case for having assets beyond his known sources of income.

The NAB has filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his sons -- Hassan and Hussain, daughter -- Maryam, son-in-law -- Safdar, and Dar in the accountability court. The Supreme Court on July 28 disqualified Sharif from the prime minister's office in the Panama Papers scandal.

The court's ruling stated that Sharif had been dishonest in not disclosing his earnings from a Dubai-based company of his son in his nomination papers during the 2013 generalelection.  According to the Supreme Court, the accountability judge should decide the cases within six months.