Shah says he was not informed about Dr Asim’s arrest until after

Sindh CM says evidence presented for Dr Asim's arrest was less than satisfactory, says PPP is holding him responsible

KARACHI: After a meeting with the Karachi Corps Commanders and the Director General Rangers, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said on Friday that neither was he informed ahead of Sindh Higher Education Commission (HEC) chief Dr Asim Hussain’s arrest, nor was the evidence presented after the event satisfactory.

Addressing the media after inaugurating an underpass on Shahrah-e-Faisal, Shah added that despite an agreement that he would be taken into confidence by security agencies before the arrest of high ranking government officials, he had been left in the dark.

"The concerned agencies are legally bound to taken me into confidence before taking the person of such a caliber into custody but I am sorry I was not informed," Shah said adding that Dr Asim was the chairman of Sindh HEC and enjoys the status of a provincial minister.

"The procedure has not been followed in this case. This is not fair and it has invited the wrath of my party."

The chief minister said that just after the arrest of Dr Asim he had spoken to Corps Commander and DG Rangers who told him that there were some serious complaints against the Sindh HEC chairman.

"But when they sent me the details of the complaints against Dr Asim, I found them to be generic, without solid substance."

In Friday’s meeting with DG Rangers too, Shah said he had complained that he" should have been informed about the complaints, but this was not done." To this, Shah said that the DG Rangers had assured him that he would be taken into confidence before taking such actions and the current issue would also be settled.

Further criticizing the security forces for the arrest, Shah said that had there been some complaints against Dr Asim, and substantial proof of wrongdoings, he would have been probed and arrested.

“My party is not content with the action taken against Dr Asim. They hold me responsible because they (PPP) have elevated me on to the position of chief minister,” he said, before adding that "being an elected chief minister and head of provincial apex committee I must be consulted."

He lamented that despite assurances from the Prime Minister, ‘invasion’ raids by The FIA and NAB were still continuing. "The Prime Minister told me that he was not aware of their action and had assured me to redress our grievances but even then raids continued."

Shah relays concerns to Sindh DG Rangers on Dr Asim Hussain's arrest

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah on Friday expressed concern over the arrest of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Zardari’s close confidante, Dr Asim Hussain.

The Sindh chief minister expressed his displeasure over the arrest during a meeting with Sindh Director General Rangers Major General Bilal Akbar, saying he should have been informed before the arrest, official sources told The Express Tribune.

"Sindh CM and DG Rangers discussed matters pertaining to the law and order situation of the metropolis, as well as the recent arrest of Dr Asim Hussain," sources said.

Read: Dr Asim charged with terror-financing

Further, the source added, DG Rangers also presented authentic documents to the provincial chief minister regarding the involvement of Dr Asim in various cases.

"It was decided earlier that all information regarding the Karachi operation will be shared with me and no action will be taken without my consent," sources quoted Qaim Ali Shah as saying.

On the contrary, CM House spokesperson termed the meeting 'routine' in the context of the ongoing Karachi operation.

Rangers levelled terror-financing charges against Dr Asim Hussain while presenting him before an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday.

Read: Qaim advises Rangers against interveining in Sindh's matters

Officials of the paramilitary force informed the Karachi ATC-III that they had taken Dr Asim into preventive custody for 90 days on charges of embezzlement and using misappropriated funds in terrorist acts.

Dr Asim – who is currently serving as the chairman of the Higher Education Council (HEC) in Sindh and is a close confidante of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari – was picked up from his office a day earlier by law enforcers clad in plain clothes. The arrest, at the time, was thought to be part of an anti-graft campaign which has already seen several individuals associated with PPP arrested on corruption charges. However, no government agency claimed responsibility for the arrest all throughout Wednesday.