Funding criminal activities is an act of terrorism, says SHC bench

Court hears petition challenging Dr Asim's detention

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) observed on Thursday that financial assistance in criminal activities also comes within the ambit of terrorism.

A division bench, headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, made this observation while hearing a petition challenging the detention of former federal minister for petroleum, Dr Asim Hussain, by the Rangers under charges of funding terrorist activities.

His wife, Dr Zareen Hussain, had assailed the provisions of Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 under which the Rangers had detained Dr Asim for 90 days.

On Thursday, the petitioner's lawyer, Abid S Zuberi, argued that Section 11EEEE of the ATA 1997, under which the petitioner's husband has been detained for a period of 90 days, is illegal as there are lacunas in this legal provision.

The lawyer stated that a person cannot be kept in detention merely on the basis of allegations, adding that if the Rangers had any credible evidence against the petitioner's husband, why had it not been presented in court.

At one stage, the bench members remarked that there were reasons behind the allegations and, similarly, financial assistance also comes under the ambit of terrorism. The bench adjourned the hearing until October 6.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2015.