Will die before giving statement under duress, says Dr Asim

Dr Asim Hussain remanded to NAB custody for seven days

Dr Asim Hussain on Friday closely missed his release after a detention of 90 days as an anti-terrorism court (ATC) allowed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to formally arrest the former federal minister.

An anti terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi  on Fridayhanded over Dr Asim to the top accountability body for further interrogation in the ongoing corruption probe against him.



According to sources, NAB officials will present Dr Asim before the accountability court in Clifton to formally initiate the graft probe against him, followed by seeking his custody.

Denying the allegations levied against him, Dr Asim in statement said, "I would rather die than give a statement under duress."

Earlier on Thursday, police said they were withdrawing charges against the PPP leader. DIG Karachi West Feroz Shah informed the ATC that they had completed their investigations and were withdrawing charges against Dr Asim under Section 497. He added that they could not find any solid evidence to frame charges against the ex-petroleum minister.



Shah added that NAB had already obtained a warrant for Dr Asim’s arrest thus his custody would be transferred to the accountability body.  However, when NAB reached the Gulberg police station on Thursday night, where Dr Asim was held, they ran into legal snags.

An investigation officer argued that Dr Asim’s custody could not be transferred without first informing the court.

Dr Asim had been detained by the paramilitary Rangers on August 26. He, along with 27 others, had been accused of facilitating terrorism by providing treatment to terrorists — militants working for political and religious groups — who were injured in shootouts with the law enforcers or with rival groups.



When his 90-day detention expired on November 26, Dr Asim was transferred to police custody for further investigations.

On November 30, NAB had sought permission from the anti-terrorism court to question the former petroleum minister in connection with graft references. The trial court allowed the accountability body to join the investigations.