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As the trial resumed against Ishaq Dar in a corruption reference filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the finance minister failed to appear for the hearing in Islamabad's accountability court on Monday.
The court issued bailable arrest warrants for the minister after rejecting his counsel's application seeking Dar's exemption from appearance in today's hearing. The hearing was adjourned until November 2.
Also read: PML-N high command meets in London today
Proceedings in the trial could not advance due to Dar's absence, even though prosecution witness Abdul Rehman Gondal, branch manager of a private bank's parliament branch, had appeared in the court with two gunny sacks full of documents related to the minister's bank accounts.
At the outset of the hearing, Dar's counsel Khawaja Haris filed an application seeking exemption for the minister's appearance in the court today and adjournment of the hearing until Nov 2. The court initially reserved its decision on the matter but later rejected the application.
Haris stated in the application that Dar, after attending the 16th Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Ministerial Conference in Dushanbe, had travelled to Jeddah. He said the minister fell ill in Jeddah and subsequently had to go to London for medical treatment.
He requested the court to exempt Dar from the hearing as he has to undergo medical check-up in London today.
NAB prosecution opposed the application, urging the court to issue arrest warrants against the minister instead.
The court accepted NAB's appeal and ordered Dar to appear in the court on Nov 2 after issuing his arrest warrants.
The court had indicted Dar last month in a NAB reference for owning assets "beyond his known sources of income".
At the last hearing, the court had summoned two additional witnesses, Faisal Shahzad and Mohammad Azeem, both from the banking sectors, in today's hearing.
'Assets beyond known income'
On July 28, a five-member Supreme Court bench had ordered NAB to file three references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and one against Dar, on petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Imran Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami’s Sirajul Haq and Awami Muslim League’s Sheikh Rashid Ahmed.
In its reference against the finance minister, NAB has alleged that “the accused has acquired assets and pecuniary interests/resources in his own name and/or in the name of his dependants of an approximate amount of Rs831.678 million (approx)”.
The reference alleged that the assets were “disproportionate to his known sources of income for which he could not reasonably account for”.
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On DawnNews
Oct 30, 2017 09:57am
No hospital in Lahore worthy enough to treat them??
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Oct 30, 2017 09:59am
Very conveniently fell ill in Jeddah and these so called leaders can only be treated in London, Sharifs and Bhutto's are pinnacle of corruption and dishonesty.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:05am
Every politician get sick when their cases starts, what a mockery of the system
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Oct 30, 2017 10:07am
Can we pass a law that no such exemption allowed on Medical Ground, specially to Politician.
In Pakistan, Students take sick leave by submitting fake medical certificate and Politician takes exemptions from Court.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:07am
ill it is quite obvious the plundered money has to returned!!!
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Oct 30, 2017 10:08am
Strange .... it was known to everybody beforehand that he was going to fall ill.... that his illness could not be treated in Pakistan....and that he will fly to London for his treatment.... ye cheez Pakistanio.....:)
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Oct 30, 2017 10:08am
Ok Ji
We all believe you.
P.S. There will come a day when no excuse will be admissible... That day every soul shall have to answer for what it has done.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:10am
You know, I too had gone for an umrah start of this year and fell ill. I wish I too could have gone to London for treatment.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:10am
What a justice system!
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Oct 30, 2017 10:12am
These politicians are healthy when making illegal money but are sick with all diseases on earth upon being asked to appear in court.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:13am
No exemption from accountability court, Dar to face corruption charges, innocent till proven guilty. If no issues, should resume his job with more confidence.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:14am
UK to deport corrupted officials back to Pakistan or face criminal charges in international court.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:15am
It is shameful that these thugs when get sick go to UK for treatment. Who is going to pay for his treatment? Of course from public money. Let's unite and do not let these thugs to land in Pakistan. We as a nation have no respect for ourselves otherwise, the Sharifs and their cronies would never dare to play with our future. We have enabled all the bad habits in them and they are taking advantage of our ignorance.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:16am
In fact Government facilitated the criminal by not putting his name in the ECL.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:16am
Bring back P Musharraf also.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:16am
Dar Come in Pakistan.here are respectable and well furnished hospitals.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:18am
Our system has failed for Powerful and Rich people.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:19am
All those IMF loans that were deposited in Switzerland are coming back to haunt him.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:20am
why dont we spend a billion dollar to build a hospital for all high class so they can stay within country when needed??
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Oct 30, 2017 10:26am
NAB is also a party to these crimes of our politicians. Why Ishaq Dar and Sharif family names are not on ECL?
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Oct 30, 2017 10:32am
Why does every politicians run to London for treatment,is it free there.???May be boarding , lodging Free curtsie NS and IK and their off shore companies.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:33am
What's the point of even faking a sickness? At this point the entire country is aware of this game of lying about their health. I'd have more respect for a politician if they just told the truth. Maybe the urge to lie is like an itch for our politicians, the longer they don't scratch it the greater the need to do so arises.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:34am
@Shahid London was the nearest place :)
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Oct 30, 2017 10:35am
The moment corruption case is filed, these politicians fell ill. The handful of people who support PMLN must be really proud of their leaders.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:41am
All "Mentally" and "Morally" Sick people are in London for Treatment !
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Oct 30, 2017 10:43am
Ishaq dar is using lame excuses to escape accountability. Nab him and put him on ECL.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:44am
Sick from looting my people's money. You can run but Judiciary is after you have no place Pakistan. Thank you Chief Justice Nisar for going to final kill switch for Anti Corruption Drive. Thank You Imran Khan Tiger of Pakistan yaar.
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Oct 30, 2017 10:49am
When the corruption case starts why all culprits fall serious ill
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Oct 30, 2017 10:52am
@ Jonejo Doesn't work like that. We don't have an extradition treaty with them
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Oct 30, 2017 11:03am
Poor sick person, and as finance minister don't have any acceptable hospital in country inspite of availing US $ 35.00 billions loan
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Oct 30, 2017 11:08am
Whole country knows he has gone to London to attend a party meeting.
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Oct 30, 2017 11:09am
I failed to understand why our all "ailing" politicians go to London for their "treatment" it confirm the impression that we are still under the occupation of British Raj they only change is now British Raj is ruling us indirectly through their agents in our politics and establishment
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Oct 30, 2017 11:11am
Put them on ECL while they are being investigated dont know why this has not happened as yet
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Oct 30, 2017 11:23am
Bailable warrants... Again ?
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Oct 30, 2017 11:26am
One should speak the truth. The real reason for going to London of Mr Ishaq Dar was to attend PML N meeting or a medical checkup ?. There should be a punishment for submitting a false medical certificate in the court.
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Oct 30, 2017 11:27am
Fell ill in Jeddah, treatment in London... I guess there are no doctors in Jeddah or all of Pakistan.
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Oct 30, 2017 11:40am
Checkup by Dr Sharif family?
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Oct 30, 2017 11:42am
Nawaz Sharif could not even make a single reasonable hospital where these corrupts can get treatment. Even for the treatment of minor health issues they have to fly to London.
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Oct 30, 2017 11:46am
Dushanbe to Jeddah, but why? Is the only way to get to Islamabad? What is the sickness? Food poisoning? Even primary school kid does not make such excuses.
Dar wants to attend the PMLN meeting, and also likes to avoid the court proceedings.
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Oct 30, 2017 11:48am
I hope he gets well soon. He seems very ill since hos legal case started. Buhahahaha
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Oct 30, 2017 11:49am
Some thing seriously wrong with Judicial system. All certified corrupt politicians n rul8ng elite sittinging in U.K. none on ECL, they have all State confidentials in their hands n courts are keep showering tgem with "bailable warrants". Its just crazy.
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Oct 30, 2017 11:49am
good work.. last time his council was absent and now dar himself... what a joke..
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Oct 30, 2017 11:54am
NAB judges are to blame for this attitude of the accused, they must issue non available warrants and put all on ECL., this is mockery of accountability, justice, judiciary, and insaaf....
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Oct 30, 2017 11:54am
Since they run to London for personal medical treatment and hold meetings about Pakistan in London - all of them should be permanently exiled to the UK. We cannot have leaders who make decisions about us in London. By the way who is paying for their travel and ground expenses in London.
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Oct 30, 2017 12:06pm
These are very sick people, not physically but mentally. They need a prolonged treatment in Pakistani jails and not in foreign hospitals.
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Oct 30, 2017 12:22pm
People still vote them but those people don't have hospital for themselves. My question to those who voted PMLN. Are they able to take their children to london when they become sick ?
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Oct 30, 2017 12:37pm
Wonderful finance minister of Pakistan! Is there any rule of law in pakistan?
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Oct 30, 2017 12:40pm
"Isaq Dar in London due to ill health" or he is avoiding his court appearing and why he was allowed to go? Issue unbailable warrants, put his name on exit list and arrest him. Don't make mockery of law!
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Oct 30, 2017 12:45pm
i think we should ask the brits to vote for us too.
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Oct 30, 2017 12:54pm
As expected, all PMLN leaders will run away like cowards. They are corrupt and plunderers of Pakistan's wealth. Bring them to justice.
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Oct 30, 2017 01:14pm
@Khan I agree that our judicial system need overhauling, but as far as putting the a person on ECL, is the responsibility of NAB not judiciary.
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Oct 30, 2017 01:18pm
Why do they always travel to london for treatment??
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Oct 30, 2017 01:21pm
@Khan I agree that our judicial system need overhauling, but as far as putting the a person on ECL, after filing reference against any accused person it is the responsibility of NAB not judiciary.
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Oct 30, 2017 01:39pm
NAB is the biggest criminal in this entire scenario. NAB is willing to give clean bill of health to Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Safdar, Hassan Hussain Nawaz and the Dar. NAB is playing delay tactics to serve the justice. I say Supreme Court take the case in its hands and try he culprits.
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Oct 30, 2017 01:43pm
Cure for certain aliments are found in expensive London hospitals.
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Oct 30, 2017 01:53pm
@Joe .... Wrong. They may be billionaires, but they wont spend even a single paisa from their black money for their treatment. They will make sure that public money is spent on them.
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Oct 30, 2017 01:54pm
All these politicians travel to Europe or US for medical treatments. Shame on them.
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Oct 30, 2017 01:55pm
Whole country knows he has gone to London to attend a party meeting. NAB as well as PMLN Govt seems a party for Dar & others' escape, otherwise as per legal provisions, all these politicians facing corruption charges should have been put on ECL.
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Oct 30, 2017 01:58pm
Lets hope his wealth will help in restoring his health.
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Oct 30, 2017 01:59pm
@A Qureshi UK
Agree with you 100%. I don't understand why the people of Pakistan don't see this, don't do anything about this. The only conclusion I come up with is that the majority of Pakistanis must be just like their leaders!
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Oct 30, 2017 02:02pm
Here we go again! They all fall ill when under indictment with mysterious ailment, that only a specialist in London can cure, No one in Pakistan is qualified or skilled enough to cure it!?
He's simply trying to avoid arrest. He's gone and don't expect him to return. Kiss the billiosn goodbye, which he has stashed in Dubai, London, NY, Switzerland.
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Oct 30, 2017 02:04pm
Yeah sure! Only a British Surgeon can cure his headaches!
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Except the Courts in Pakistan continue to get fooled all the time on flimsly excuse to travel abroad for 'health issues.' Some people or soemthings don't get sick of hearing the same lame excuse to avoid justice!
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Oct 30, 2017 02:07pm
Very soon others will follow his footsteps
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Oct 30, 2017 02:08pm
A colleague of mine who was stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer, performed her Hajj in Saudia Arabia this year. She fell ill and fractured her wrist there. She did not return to London for treatment, she was treated in Jeddah with the best facilities.
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Oct 30, 2017 02:09pm
To ALL Pakistanis: Your politicians treat you like the dog excrement under their shoes and you will not do anything about your politicians except talk. Prove me wrong - I challange you!
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Oct 30, 2017 02:09pm
All Pakistan cabinet in London meeting with real prime minister....what a travesty and still people vote for them. Than they complain no hospitals ,. electricity,gas, water ,schools well you voted for them
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Oct 30, 2017 02:13pm
@Irfan
Exactly! Its a complete joke. These should have been NON bailable warrants. That tells you its all a hoax to pacify stupid people.
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Oct 30, 2017 02:31pm
Diagnosis: ?? Corruption Syndrome for investigation. get well soon.
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Oct 30, 2017 02:34pm
Why can't NAB/SC put their names in ECL?
Why give them chance to fabricate false evidence?
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Oct 30, 2017 02:35pm
This is the reason why we need to invest in hospitals
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Oct 30, 2017 02:42pm
In 2013, Ishaq Dar underwent angioplasty in Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology. So what is wrong now that can not be treated here?
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Oct 30, 2017 02:44pm
If they had built any hospitals in Pakistan he might have gone to one there.
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Oct 30, 2017 03:00pm
What a mockery! He fell ill in Juddah yet was fit enough to travel all the way to London? Why didnt he get treated in Juddah?
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Oct 30, 2017 03:02pm
What a shame that when they steal money with both hands they are healthy but as soon as they face courts they become sick. Shame on them day and night.
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Oct 30, 2017 03:02pm
Why his name was not put on ECL?
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Oct 30, 2017 03:03pm
No sooner Court issued non bailable warrant , political leaders fly either to London or Riyadh . What a prosperity .....
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Oct 30, 2017 03:22pm
Bailable warrants are useless . There is 100% bail on them . Judges should not issue them . Sad our hospitals are not worthy enough to treat them.
And Our public not sensible enough to reject them.
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Oct 30, 2017 03:29pm
These plunderers of Pakistan rush to London for treatment and that too on taxpayers expense even if they have mild flu. I really wish this mafia can be brought to justice and made an example for other looters of national wealth.
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Oct 30, 2017 04:21pm
Is there no decent hospital in Jeddah to treat our worthy finance minister? He could have travelled back to Pakistan for treatment instead of going to London. This circus of our politician going to london for treatment has to stop
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Oct 30, 2017 05:06pm
@aleem .... this perhaps is a circus but its only "escape" from legalities. I am sure neither NS nor his spouse nor this Dar has any such ailments. There should be a law in Pakistan...whenever a politician gets (or pretends to be ill), he/she must be tied with ropes on a stretcher and shifted to nearby government hospital on Edhi ambulance. This way they will get well real soon.
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Oct 30, 2017 05:43pm
@ilyas khan there is no case, nice try tho...
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Oct 30, 2017 05:45pm
Mashallah, what a dedicated and devoted finance minister we have...he has such a strong connection with the economic health of the country, that when it starts to suffer, his health suffers also. (:
Hasan
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Oct 30, 2017 06:04pm
in civilized world, in case of such instances, medical report is requested from a doctor. and then the findings are followed up with next medical facility/doctor. independent investigation is launched to ascertain that he/she is not lying.
If caught lying, then people of influence are given very strict jail terms along with huge fiscal fines. But here in Pakistan laws can be changed for one persons interest.
the country is doomed for sure.
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Oct 30, 2017 06:28pm
Ishaq Dar must stop making excuses to evade 'accountability'. Why do these politicians have to go to expensive London hospitals even when they sneeze? They should set good example by going to hospitals in the country, not in foreign countries. The Supreme Court must not be duped by such machinations of these corrupt politicians. No politician can be above the law. The people of Pakistan 'demand' accountability.
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Oct 30, 2017 07:29pm
How easily our politicians move outside country with their visas to other countries in a time of legal proceedings.
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Oct 30, 2017 09:24pm
Really strange to see not a single comment is in favor of PMLN and strangely they win the election
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Oct 31, 2017 12:22am
Funny how during these corruption cases that involve PML-N, one by one, they are falling ill and running to London.
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Oct 31, 2017 12:32am
When ever they needs to attend court or there warrant out they go to London due to illness same story for all politicians now I’m thinking if madam kalsoom is really ill or she’s getting use for mr sherif to stay away from Pakistan why they don’t get treatment in Pakistan if there is not good hospitals in Pakistan so why they wasted money on metro and trains I think new good standard hospitals were more needed in Pakistan please don’t come back just stay there thanks.
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Oct 31, 2017 01:30am
HE will never come back.
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Oct 31, 2017 01:32am
Another coward, just like Mush!
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Oct 31, 2017 06:52am
Why dont we have a good enough hospital in pakistan to treat these leaders.
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Oct 31, 2017 02:59pm
Is Pakistan a wrong place for medical treatment of these good for nothing politicians.
Very conveniently they become ill to avoid courts.
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Nov 02, 2017 10:35am
@rajab Who will pass such a law? The present system suits them all.
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