PHC sets aside NAB asset freeze order in Upper Kohistan case

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has declared unlawful an Accountability Court order freezing assets in the Upper Kohistan scandal case and sent the matter back to the trial court for a fresh decision within one month.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Inamullah issued a detailed written judgment on appeals filed against the freezing of assets. In its ruling, the high court set aside the Accountability Court’s October 31, 2025 order, declaring it null and void, and remanded the case for retrial.

According to the judgment, the trial court has been directed to hear both sides again, record evidence, and decide the objections strictly in accordance with the law within one month.

Arguments before the court

During the proceedings, counsel for the petitioners, Shabir Khan, Muhammad Riaz and Irshadul Hassan, argued that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had frozen the petitioners’ assets during an inquiry. They contended that when objections were filed before the Accountability Court, the court disregarded material evidence and dismissed all objections.

The PHC observed in its written judgment that rejecting the objections without a proper inquiry and without recording evidence amounted to a violation of the right to a fair trial. The court directed the Accountability Court to hear both parties afresh, record evidence, and pass a decision strictly in accordance with the law within one month.

Directions to NAB and lower court

The high court also restrained NAB from taking any coercive action regarding possession of the petitioners’ properties until a final decision is made in the case. It further ordered that the petitioners should not be harassed during this period.

The case relates to assets of Iftikhar Ahmed and Safia Parveen in Hayatabad, Peshawar, which had been frozen by NAB. The couple had approached the high court to challenge the freeze order.

With the release of the detailed judgment, the PHC has also laid down directions for the lower court aimed at ensuring transparency and due process in the matter.

The ruling means the objections to the asset freeze will now be reconsidered by the Accountability Court, which has been instructed to undertake a fresh hearing and decide the matter after recording evidence from both sides.