Rangers fail to produce Dr Asim Hussain before court

Dr Asim's wife files petition against prolonged detention


Our Correspondent November 25, 2015
Dr Asim Hussain. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI: The wife of former petroleum minister, Dr Asim Hussain, filed a petition in the Sindh High Court on Wednesday against the Rangers for not producing her husband before the court despite the expiry of his detention period.

Dr Asim was detained by the Rangers on August 27 for 90 days for an inquiry regarding terrorism allegations against him. The paramilitary force had told the court that he was involved in massive embezzlement of funds and financing terrorism. In her petition, Dr Zareen Hussain, maintained that the detention period of her husband, as per law, was over at midnight on Tuesday. Therefore, the paramilitary force was legally bound to present him before a court, if any case made up against him, or release him, if found innocent. But neither was he presented, nor released, she added.

Dr Asim was grilled under the Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which allows the armed and civil armed forces to arrest any person whom they believe to be involved in terrorist activities and keep their custody for 90 days.

It was a sheer violation of the law if the Rangers retain his custody, she stated, pleading the court to term his detention unlawful. The petition was filed late in the afternoon, therefore, could not be picked up for scrutiny. The court is likely to check the petition's maintainability and then fix it for hearing today [Thursday].

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2015.

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