PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has set aside the earlier decision of the accountability court in the Upper Kohistan financial scandal and ordered a fresh hearing of the case.
In a detailed ruling, Justice Sahibzada Asadullah declared the accountability court’s October 31, 2025 verdict null and void while hearing appeals related to frozen assets in the case. The high court sent the matter back to the accountability court and directed it to reconsider the objections within one month.
The court observed that dismissing appeals without proper inquiry and recording of evidence goes against the principles of a fair trial. It instructed the accountability court to hear all parties, examine the evidence carefully, and then issue a decision in accordance with the law.
The high court also directed the accountability court to make an independent ruling regarding the ownership and possession of the disputed properties. It further ordered that the petitioners should not face harassment during the proceedings.
In addition, the court made it clear that no action should be taken against the petitioners’ assets until a final decision is reached after the retrial.
The Upper Kohistan scandal involves allegations of financial irregularities, and the case has drawn significant public attention in recent months.
