The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday reinstated interim bail for Dr Fazeela Abbasi in a money laundering case, imposing a surety of Rs100,000 and instructing her to proceed with the trial court for further legal action.
The hearing was conducted by a bench headed by Justice Muhammad Azam Khan. Dr Abbasi appeared in court accompanied by her lawyer, Naeem Bukhari, who emphasized that she had consistently responded to court summons, except for one occasion when she provided a medical certificate covering a three-day absence. Despite this compliance, her bail had previously been revoked.
Following the arguments, the court decided to restore her interim bail, enabling her to continue with the legal process at the trial court level.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) initiated the case against Dr Abbasi, citing irregularities in her financial dealings. The FIA highlighted that Dr Abbasi maintained 22 bank accounts with a combined turnover of approximately Rs25 billion, while her declared annual income was reported between Rs400,000 and Rs600,000, prompting suspicions of money laundering activities.
Notably, Dr Fazeela Abbasi’s brother, actor Hamza Ali Abbasi, publicly distanced himself from the case, clarifying that he is not involved in her legal matters.
In a significant development, the IHC’s decision offers temporary relief to Dr Abbasi as the trial court undertakes a detailed examination of the case. Legal experts observe that this move allows the accused to prepare her defense while adhering to judicial procedures.
