Dr Asim will walk free soon, claims Zardari

Former president says he went out of the country to give Bilawal political space; will be in Pakistan 'within weeks'

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson has expressed hope that his close confidant Dr Asim Hussain, who is facing multiple cases pertaining to corruption, terror financing and treatment of suspected militants will ‘get out of jail’ soon.

In an interview with Geo TV, the former president said Dr Asim, who was arrested in August 2015, belonged to a respectable family but there were misunderstandings [with the establishment], which led to his arrest.

“Misunderstandings were at their peak and Dr Asim was a soft target,” he told Hamid Mir. “He has been granted a bail in a case...and hopefully will be released soon.”

On Nov 1, the Sindh High Court had granted bail to Dr Asim in a case related to sheltering and treatment of criminals at his private health facilities. However, the former petroleum minister is still facing two more cases.



Asked why he was out of Pakistan, Zardari said he was giving his son, Bilawal Bhutto political space, and shall return to the country “within weeks”.

“Politics is all about timing…I wanted Bilawal to come at the forefront for his political grooming,” he said. “He’s doing very well now, and you will see me in Pakistan very soon." Within days, weeks or months? “Within weeks,” he said.

Zardari went out of the country in June 2015, days after a surprising outburst, in which he said politicians were better suited to running the affairs of the country. “You are here for only three years,” he said in an apparent jab at the army chief.



Responding to a query if he was afraid of getting arrested, the PPP co-chairman said he had been to jail, and that whoever feared prison couldn't do politics in Pakistan.

Apparently taking credit of the multibillion-dollar project, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Zardari said he helped China set its footprint in Pakistan through CPEC for the betterment of the region.

On a question if army chief General Raheel Sharif should be given an extension in service, the PPP leader said, “it was the prerogative of the government”.

Watch the interview here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KUhfnZTelU