DR ASIM’S BAIL

By Nasir Mahmood

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court has ordered urgent hearing of Dr Asim Hussain’s bail plea on December 13 against the reference filed by NAB with respect to awarding contracts to private gas company as petroleum minister. A division bench headed by Justice Syed Muhammad Farooq Shah heard the petition seeking hearing of the case on priority basis filed by Dr Asim Hussain. The court after hearing the comments of the counsel of the petitioner approved the petition and adjourned the further hearing till December 13. Dr Hussain’s counsel submitted that his client was incarcerated since August 26, 2015 but not a single charge had yet been proved in the accountability court. He submitted that all other co-accused were granted pre or post arrest bails except him and requested the court to release him on bail. The defence legal adviser said that his client was truly sick and his bail should be accepted. The Court issued notice to prosecutor of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over the supplication in regards to prompt knowing about Dr Asim defilement case. The court commented that the bail could not be endorsed without listening to the position of NAB. The judge while accepting the plea conducted the hearing session of the Dr. Asim case. The former minister, businessman Iqbal Z Ahmed and other officials including ex-managing director and acting general manager of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) were also booked by the NAB in the case. They were alleged to have awarded the contracts to a privately-managed gas processing company, Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL).