Zardari's close confidante Dr Asim Hussain admitted to hospital after chest pain

Reports say former minister was moved to intensive care unit of NICVD

KARACHI: Politician and chairman of Higher Education Commission in Sindh Dr Asim Hussain, who is in Rangers' custody for a 90-day preventive detention over graft charges, was rushed to a hospital early on Tuesday after he suffered chest pain, Express News reported.

According to reports, Dr Hussain, who is a close confidante of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, was moved to an intensive care unit (ICU) of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), where doctors performed various tests, including chest x-ray, before declaring his condition out of danger.

Dr Asim Hussain's test report available with The Express Tribune

Read: SHC repeats notice to Rangers DG on Dr Asim’s arrest

Later, the former petroleum minister was shifted to a special ward on the second floor of the NICVD, where he is being kept under observation.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and Senior Information Minister Nisar Khuhro inquired Dr Hussain's health at the hospital before leaving for Mirpurkhas district to condole the death of PPP MPA Jameel Bhurguri.

On September 3, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had disposed of a petition requesting the court to shift under trial suspect Dr Hussain to a hospital for provision of better medical treatment.

Rangers told the SHC judges Dr Hussain was provided with necessary medical care in custody, sources had told The Express Tribune.

Read: Authorities arrest Zardari's close confidante Dr Asim Hussain

On August 27, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi had handed over Dr Hussain to Rangers a day after he was picked up by law-enforcers in civvies from his Clifton office.

According to reports, the former petroleum minister is said to be suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes and therefore needs medical care.