ISLAMABAD, OCT 02 (DNA) – Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, on Monday, challenged the accountability court’s indictment order before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

The incumbent minister requested the IHC to set aside the order passed on September 27, indicting him for amassing assets beyond his known sources of income. He prayed the court stay the trial until NAB files final reference.

Appearing before the accountability judge last week, Dar pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled in the NAB reference filed against him on the orders of the Supreme Court in its July 28 judgment in Panamagate case.

The closed-door hearing allowed entry only to Dar, his counsel, a group of supporting lawyers, and federal State Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. The main gate of the Federal Judicial Complex, where the court is located, was not open to the media.

Following the indictment, the court directed the prosecution to start producing witnesses and evidence in the case. Subsequently, two witnesses were summoned on the next date of hearing – October 4.