KARACHI: A case involving terrorism charges was registered against Dr Asim Hussain, a former federal minister and close confidante of PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Wednesday night and he is likely to be presented before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday (today).
Meanwhile ExpressNews reported that the names of Dr Asim and Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon have been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), though the interior ministry did not comment on the matter.
Dr Asim, who had served as federal petroleum minister during the previous PPP government, was taken into custody on August 26 and later an ATC handed him over to the paramilitary Rangers for 90-day preventive custody. Following the expiration of his preventive custody on Wednesday, an FIR No 197/15 was registered against him at North Nazimabad police station on behalf of a Rangers officer, Inayatullah.
Sections 201 / 202 /216 / 216(A) / 409/34 of the Pakistan Penal Code and R/W 6 (7)a-21 (I)-21 (J) of the Anti-Terrorism Act have been included in the FIR.
In the FIR, Dr Asim has been accused of providing medical treatment to MQM workers and Lyari gangsters wounded in encounters with police and Rangers. The FIR states that the accused treated the injured political workers and Lyari gangsters at his hospitals at the request of MQM leaders Anis Qaimkhani, Wasim Akhter, Rauf Siddiqui, Saleem Shahzad and PPP leader Qadir Patel.
Additionally, Dr Asim has been accused of treating injured terrorists of militant outfits. He has also been accused of corruption in the Sui Southern Gas Company and Pakistan State Oil. He is likely to be handed over to police which will present him before the ATC on Thursday (today).
Dr Asim belongs to the influential family of Dr Ziauddin Ahmed, a key figure in Pakistan’s independence movement. He is the chairman of the Higher Education Commission Sindh and Chairman of the Ziauddin Group of Hospitals in Karachi.
ExpressNews reported that the names of Dr Asim and Sharjeel Memon have been put on the ECL. The interior ministry spokesperson, however, did not comment. The National Accountability Bureau had requested the interior ministry one month ago to put the names of the PPP leaders on the ECL for their alleged involvement in corruption cases.
PPP’s reaction
Responding to reports regarding placement of Shareel Memon’s and Dr Asim Hussain’s names on the ECL, the PPP said the decision has been made in haste and without any proof.
“Not a single case has been proved against both the leaders. I wonder how this decision is made,” said Sindh Information Minister Nisar Khuhro. “This is an attempt to victimise the party,’’ he said.
Speaking to media via phone from Dubai, Shareel Memon said there was no case against him and he would return to Pakistan soon. “I was not feeling well and underwent a surgery. The doctors had advised me not to travel. Now I am recovering and will come to Pakistan within ten days,” he said.
However, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah said Sharjeel Memon has refused to come back to Pakistan. “Sharjeel will not [come back] and may resign from the ministry,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2015.
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