Dr Asim's wife withdraws contempt proceedings against Rangers

Sheh states that her grievance stands remedied

KARACHI: : The Sindh High Court (SHC) dismissed on Thursday a contempt plea against the sector commander of the Rangers for allegedly flouting the court's order to provide medical treatment to Dr Asim Hussain during his detention under terror-financing charges.

Headed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, the division bench passed this order when the lawyer representing Dr Zareen Hussain, who had filed the contempt application, sought the court's permission to withdraw the same.

"Ayan Mustafa Memon, the counsel for the petitioner, states that he has been instructed that the grievance of the petitioner stands remedied and, therefore, he does not want to press the listed application, which accordingly is dismissed as not pressed," the judges wrote in the order.

The Rangers personnel had taken Dr Asim, the former petroleum minister, into custody for 90 days under section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, on terror-financing and corruption charges.

Soon after his arrest, his wife, Dr Zareen, had challenged the detention under the anti-terror law, pleading the court order his transfer from the Mitharam sub-jail to a hospital as he urgently needed medical attention.

Days later, she filed a contempt application, accusing the commanding officer of the Rangers Abdullah Shah Ghazi Headquarters, Colonel Amjad Jamil Iqbal, of committing contempt of the court's orders by not ensuring the provision of necessary medical aid.

Denying her allegations at the last hearing, the Rangers authorities had maintained that the detainee was being provided all necessary medical care by their professional doctors.

On the last hearing, the two-judge bench had directed the additional attorney-general to submit reports of tests of Dr Asim conducted by the Rangers doctors.

On Thursday, the petitioner's lawyer, Ayan Mustafa Memon, informed the judges that he had been instructed that the grievance of the petitioner stands remedied. Therefore, he does not want to press the contempt application.

The bench members dismissed the contempt application as not pressed by the petitioner's lawyer. Hearing on the petition challenging his arrest under the section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act was adjourned for a date to be later notified by the court.

Meeting with family

Meanwhile, another bench issued notices to the deputy attorney-general, the provincial advocate-general and prosecutor-general over alleged refusal by the Rangers authorities to allow Dr Asim's meeting with his family.

Headed by Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto, the division bench directed the law officer to file comments of the federal and provincial interior ministries by a date to be later notified by the court.

Dr Ejaz Fatima, the mother of Dr Asim, had filed an application, stating that the court had directed the Rangers officials to allow their meeting with him at the Mitharam sub-jail. She alleged that when they approached the sub-jail, the officials there did not allow the family members or the lawyer to meet Dr Asim. She argued that this is a violation of the jail manual as well as the fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution.

Therefore, a direction was sought for the Rangers authorities to allow the detainee's meeting with his family members as well as his lawyer.