Dr Asim denies meeting Faryal Talpur, Sohail Siyal

KARACHI: Former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain, who has been a close aide to former president Asif Ali Zardari, rejected the reports that Faryal Talpur (sister of Asif Zardari and a leader of Pakistan People’s Party) had held a meeting with him. 

He denied the reports saying neither he held a meeting with Faryal Talpur, nor he had met provincial minister Sohail Anwar Siyal.  He alleged that he was facing a media trial that should be stopped now.  Replying to a question, Dr Asim denied that he had talked to Asif Ali Zardari by phone. 

Dr Asim Hussain, who had attended a hearing against him before an accountability court (AC), was talking to the journalists informally outside the courtroom. Administrative Judge of the ACs, Saad Qureshi, while hearing the JVL case against Dr Asim Hussain, Basharat Mirza, Shoaib Siddiqui, Zohaib Warisi and Ejaz Chaudhry adjourned the proceedings till May 7. 

The charges against the detained accused could not be framed as the copies of the case were not provided to all the accused. The court ordered to complete the procedure of provision of due documents to all the accused.

Dr Asim Hussain is facing two references pertaining to the charges of money-laundering and corruption in different departments, occupation of state lands, breach of trust and awarding contracts to the parties of his choice during his tenure as petroleum minister.