ATC issues notice on Dr. Asim Hussain’s acquittal plea

Petitioner says no witness has testified against him over the past seven years

KARACHI:

The Special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) issued notices to the parties on the acquittal plea of former adviser on petroleum, Dr. Asim Hussain in a case of allegedly treating terrorists at his hospital in the metropolitan city.

In his petition, Dr. Hussain pleaded before the ATC on Saturday that a fabricated case was registered against him as the prosecution could not produce even single witness who could testify against him during the past seven years; therefore, the court accept his acquittal plea.

The court issued notices to the parties and sought arguments on December 24, the next date of hearing.

The case was registered against Dr. Hussain in 2015 on the complaint of the Rangers alleging that terrorists were provided treatment at his hospital. Anees Qaimkhani, Waseem Akhtar, Rauf Siddiqui, Qadir Patel and Usman Moazzam are also named in the case.

Interim bail granted

The Accountability Court granted interim bail to PSP Chairman and former Mayor of Karachi Mustafa Kamal in a reference pertaining to illegal allotment of plots in Clifton.

Mustafa Kamal’s lawyer Hasan Sabir Advocate argued that after amending the NAB Ordinance, the Supreme Court had directed them to approach the Accountability Court.

The Supreme Court referred to approach the accountability court within 15 days. Syed Mustafa Kamal and others obtained bail from the Sindh High Court.

The court granted interim bail of Rs 5 lakh. The NAB approached the Supreme Court to cancel the bail of Mustafa Kamal and others.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2022.