SHC grants bail to Dr Asim

November 2, 2016
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By Nasir Mahmood

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has granted bail to Dr Asim Hussain and others. The bench comprised Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Abdul Maalik Gaddi. Barrister Sardar Latif Khosa and Anwar Mansoor Khan appeared on behalf of former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain.
The bail to MPA Rauf Siddiqui, Pak Sarzameen Party’s Anees Qaimkhani and Pasban’s Usman Moazzam were also granted for Rs 5 million each. However, the court ordered that they would not leave the country and must deposit their passports in trial court. Karachi Mayor and Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader (MQM) Waseem Akhtar and Pakistan People’s Party’s Abdul Qadir Patel were also accused in the same case. However, they had not filed their bail applications.
The order was passed by the 7th bench as earlier six benches had declined to hear bail pleas of Dr Asim and others. As per spokesman in August 2015, Rangers had detained Dr Asim Hussain for 90 days under section 11-EEE and after completion of 90 days registered the case against Dr Asim at North Nazimabad police station, accusing him of sheltering and treating injured terrorists belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and gangs based in Lyari at his private hospitals.
Earlier, on 29 October a SHC bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar had adjourned the hearing observing that the matter was already fixed by CJ for November 01, 2016 with all bail pleas of MQM Rauf Siddqui, Pak Sarzameen Party President Anees Qaimkhani and Pasban’s Usman Moazzam.
The counsels of Dr. Asim Hussain in their arguments denied the allegations as all were bogus and fake as they lacked any plausible evidence. Dr Asim was arrested on 26 August 2015 by the Sindh Rangers. He was under detention for 90 days and after that handed over to police on 25th November 2015 and police arrested him after in FIR No.197/2015, wherein, Waseem Akhtar, Rauf Siddiqui, and Anees Qaimkhani Qadir Patel were also nominated and subsequently they were arrested in July 2016 within the premises of Anti-Terrorism Court after their interim bails were cancelled by the ATC Judge, who ordered their arrest.
Moreover, on 17th October, a division bench of Sindh High Court refused the hearing of former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain’s bail plea. It was the 13th instance during past four months when lawyers of Dr. Asim Hussain returned unheard against the order of Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC).
It is pertinent to mention here that Dr Asim, former petroleum minister, on 28 October suffered transient paralysis attack in the sub-jail of JPMC where doctors took him for an emergency checkup. He underwent an MRI and CT scan tests.

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