Comments sought from NAB, IG on Dr Asim’s bail plea

Former federal minister accused of illegal appointments, contracts

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Wednesday notices to the director-general of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Sindh IG and others on a bail application of former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain, in cases pertaining to illegal appointments and awarding contracts in the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).

Headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, the division bench directed the federal and provincial law officers to file the relevant authorities' comments by December 17.

The lawyer informed the judges that the NAB authorities had obtained permission from the SHC's administrative judge for the anti-terrorism courts (ATCs) on November 30 to interrogate Dr Asim in cases relating to alleged illegal appointments and awarding of contracts in the gas utility without producing any sufficient evidence.

He also pointed out that the NAB authorities did not produce any authorisation letter from its chairperson for obtaining the petitioner's remand, which was unlawful. Therefore, the court was pleaded to release the petitioner on post-arrest bail.

Dr Asim was taken into custody by the Rangers from his office on August 26, making it the first high-profile arrest in the campaign against corruption. During Wednesday's proceedings, the bench took up the matter and issued notices to the NAB director-general, the Sindh IG and others to file their comments on December 17.

The same bench also questioned the maintainability of another petition seeking the transfer of terrorism cases, including one against Dr Asim, to the military courts.

Rana Faizul Hasan, who had filed the petition, argued that amendments have been made in the Army Act, whereby terrorism trials of civilians could be sent to military courts established to fight terrorism. He said Dr Asim’s case was lodged after amendments in the Army Act and the establishment of military courts. He pleaded the court to direct the authorities concerned to shift the terrorism trial of terror suspects, including that of Dr Asim, to military courts to meet the ends of justice.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th,  2015.