A Pakistani court has indicted the country's finance minister on corruption charges after investigators found his assets did not match his reported income.
Ishaq Dar was present in the courtroom on September 27 when a judge read the charges against him. Dar pleaded not guilty, an official from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party present in court told the media.
Dar did not speak to the media after his appearance in court in Islamabad but has dismissed all the allegations against him.
Under Pakistani legislation, Dar is allowed to continue working as a minister until he is found guilty. However, opposition politicians have called for him to resign on ethical grounds.
Dar has close ties to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was disqualified from holding office by the Supreme Court for concealing his financial assets in July.
Dar's indictment comes a day after Sharif made his first appearance before a judge to face corruption cases.
Sharif has also denied any wrongdoing and has been critical of the judiciary.
Several senior PML-N figures, including Sharif's daughter Maryam, have alleged that Pakistan's powerful military were behind Sharif's ouster. The army denies any involvement.
