Sindh govt gives 'clean chit' to Dr Asim, others in terrorism case

Govt asks ATC to withdraw case against accused, including Qadir Patel and Anees QaimKhani, over want of evidence

The Sindh Home Department on Friday gave a clean chit to former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain, Health Minister Qadir Patel, MQM-P leader Anees QaimKhani, and others in a terrorism case, Express News reported.

The special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Karachi heard the case, which was registered against Dr Asim Hussain in 2015 on the complaint of the Rangers alleging that terrorists were provided treatment at his hospital in the metropolis.

Anees Qaimkhani, Waseem Akhtar, Rauf Siddiqui, Qadir Patel and Usman Moazzam are also named in the case.

During the hearing of the case, the Sindh Home Department submitted its response and requested the court to withdraw the case against Dr Asim and others over want of evidence.

In the application, the provincial government stated that no witnesses were found against Dr Asim Hussain and other accused while the investigation officer had classified the case as A-class even in the initial stages due to lack of evidence.

Also read: Witness missing in Dr Asim case

The case against the accused should be dismissed under Section 494 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the Home Department added in its response.

The court issued notices to the parties on the request of the Sindh Home Department and sought their response by the second week of March.

In December last year, the ATC had issued notices to the parties on the acquittal plea of Dr Asim Hussain.

In his petition, Dr Hussain pleaded before the ATC 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 should accept his acquittal plea.