ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by the spouse of former finance minister Ishaq Dar against the auction of the latter’s bungalow.

A division bench, comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Saman Rafat Imtiaz, in a short order dismissed the petition of Tabassum Ishaq Dar and also withdrew the stay order issued against the auction of Mr Dar’s properties.

His spouse had challenged the confiscation of a house in Gulberg Lahore, saying her husband had verbally gifted the property to her on Feb 14, 1989, in lieu of her dower amount. Ms Dar said since she had accepted the gift and was residing there, NAB had erroneously shown the property as an asset of Mr Dar.

She requested the court to recall the order for auction of the property.

On Oct 2, 2018, accountability court judge Mohammad Bashir had attached Mr Dar’s properties with the Punjab government. The accountability court on November 7 last year allowed the provincial government to auction the house. As per NAB report, Rs508.31 million had been attached and placed on the disposal of the provincial government.

Following filing of a reference against Mr Dar in the accountability court in September 2017, NAB had seized all his moveable and immoveable assets. These included the house in Gulberg III, Lahore; three plots in Al-Falah Housing Society, Lahore; six acres in Islamabad; a two-kanal plot in Parliamentarians Enclave, Islamabad; a plot in the Senate Cooperative Housing Society, Islamabad; a two kanal plot and a nine marla plot in Islamabad along with six vehicles.

The bureau said Mr Dar had acquired in his name and/or in the names of his dependents assets worth Rs831.7 million which was disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2022