A court has declared Thursday that enough evidence has been found to commit a Pakistani businessman and his wife to trial over the hospitals’ deal that was annulled last year.

Sufficient prima facie grounds were found for Shaukat Ali Chaudhry and his wife Shaukat Aasia Parveen to stand trial.

The two were last week charged with corruption, money laundering, and other crimes in connection with the deal to privatise three state hospitals.

Both had pleaded not guilty in the case presided by Magistrate Rachel Montebello.

Chaudhry’s son, Asad Ali, is being charged separately.

In a 10-minute sitting on Thursday, Magistrate Rachel Montebello read out the decree in the presence of the accused couple.