Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah. Photo: File

LAHORE: Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah called charges filed by the National Accountability Bureau against Finance Minister Ishaq Dar a ?joke?, while speaking to journalists on Wednesday.

He said that there should be a legal basis and justification for the charges put against Dar, adding that the finance minister received salaries from private and multinational companies worth millions of rupees.

?In its 70-year history Supreme Court never formed a Joint Investigation Team,? the provincial minister added.

Ishaq Dar indicted in assets reference case; hearing adjourned until Oct 4

The finance minister denied the charges and vowed to prove his innocence in court

'Dar in hot water'

Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rasheed said on Wednesday that Dar is in hot water due to the ongoing NAB investigations against him. 

He predicted that the decision on the Hudaibya Paper Mills case will come in the coming seven to eight days. The case pertains to alleged money laundering by the Sharif family, including Dar.

?They have destroyed democracy in the country, for some wealth is more important than respect,? Rasheed remarked.

Dar was indicted on Wednesday by the accountability court hearing the Supreme Court-directed corruption reference against him. Dar denied all charges and vowed to prove his innocence in court.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) submitted a list of 28 witnesses, which it will now begin to produce in court at the next hearing on October 4.

The NAB reference 

The corruption reference, pertaining to Dar's owning assets that are disproportionate to his known sources of income, was filed by the National Accountability Bureau in light of the Supreme Court's July 28 judgment in the Panama Papers case.

After skipping his first hearing, for which a summons had been issued, Dar appeared in court on Monday after bailable warrants for his arrest had been issued to ensure his presence.