‘Out of danger’: Dr Asim back in Rangers custody

Sindh HEC chairperson was arrested over charges of corruption and facilitating terrorism

KARACHI: Chairperson of the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC), Dr Asim Hussain, has returned to the paramilitary force's detention centre after being discharged from the hospital.

Dr Asim was discharged from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) in Karachi after a medical board found his test reports to be normal.

Dr Asim, who was formerly a federal petroleum minister, was being treated at the NICVD for the past week after he complained of chest pain and his condition deteriorated on September 22.

Following the health complications, a medical board was formed that declared that Dr Hussain was not suffering from any heart-related medical problems and that he could be discharged from the hospital. "Dr Hussain's condition is gradually improving and he has no major health issue," stated the medical report.

Dr Hussain was admitted to the NICVD under tight security of the Rangers personnel and not even the senior leaders of the PPP were allowed to visit him. He was discharged from the hospital on Sunday night. "Paramilitary troops took him into their custody again for further investigations after the doctors found his health to be normal," said a Rangers official, while speaking to The Express Tribune.

On the other hand, Dr Hussain's family claimed that he was taken away by the Rangers before the medical report was even issued. The report was meant to be issued at 11am on Monday while the Rangers took him away on Sunday night, said a family member. He added that the Rangers did not even take permission from the hospital's medical superintendent before taking him away with them.

The family also claimed that a member of the medical board, Dr Raza, who is a neurosurgeon, was also not allowed to meet Dr Asim.

Dr Hussain was arrested on August 26 when personnel in plainclothes raided the SHEC office located in Clifton. A day after the arrest, the Rangers produced him before an anti-terrorism court and took him into custody for 90 days under Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. He was arrested over charges of corruption, abuse of power and facilitating terrorists. The corruption charges relate to the affairs of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), Karachi Electric Supply Company and illegal land allotments.

Following the arrest, the Rangers conducted two raids at the Ziauddin Hospital in Clifton and Nazimabad, from where they confiscated important records. They also arrested SSGC officials, including its deputy managing director, who are also in the Rangers' custody for 90-days.

Upset with these charges, Dr Hussain's wife, Dr Zareen Hussain, had approached the Sindh High Court to challenge the terrorism charges filed against Dr Hussain. Dr Hussain is considered a close aide of former president, Asif Ali Zardari, and his detention was the first major action by law enforcers against the PPP during the ongoing Karachi operation.

The PPP also condemned the arrest, terming it politically motivated. Even the Sindh chief minister, Qaim Ali Shah, expressed concern over the arrest during a meeting with the director general of Sindh Rangers, Major General Bilal Akbar.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2015.