KARACHI: An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) here on Thursday adjourned the hearing in a case against former federal minister and a leader of the Pakistan People's Party Dr Asim Hussiantill February 13.
This case pertains to charges of the provision of shelter to criminals and provision of medical treatment to the injured accused of terrorism. The court also issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the co-accused in this case -- PPP leader Qadir Patel, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leaders, Anees Qaim Khani and Saleem Shehzad and others.
Former home minister Rauf Siddiqui and MQM nominated-mayor Waseem Akhtar are on the interim bail in this case. Pakistan Pasban Leader Usman Moazamis also a co-accused in this case and is currently under detention in another case and is produced before the judge of the ATC (II) as one of co-accused in this case.
As Dr Asim Hussian was firstarrested by the Rangers for 90 days and later remanded to the police. Usman Moazam was also arrested by the Rangers (along with his son and others) that had kept him under detention for 90 days and after the expiry of the period of the protective detention, he was handed over to the police.
Moazam is also facing a case in an ATC. His son Muhammad Sadiq, along with another accused Ubaidullah, are also facing a separate case pertaining to charges of possession of illegal arms and explosive material.
The court has ordered to arrest other absconding accused and produce them on February 13. Since Dr Asim Hussain was admitted to the Jinnah Hospital on the court directives, he is being provided medical treatment there and is brought to the court from the hospital.
On courtorders, copies of some 17 witnesses have been provided to Dr Asim Hussain. On December 21, ATC's administrative Judge Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto had ordered the trial of Dr Asim Hussain before the ATC (II), headed by Khalida Yaseen, after he had rejected the stance of the police that they had found Dr Asim Hussain as innocent due to for want of any proofs and the police recommended to keep the case on dormant file by treating that as A-class.
According to the case facts, Dr Asim Hussain had provided medical treatment and harboured terrorists, gangsters and activists of the banned militant outifits at the North Nazimabad and Clifton branches of his hospital at the behest of political leaders.
After the police released him on Dec 11 and the administrative judge ordered not to release him and try in the ATC (II), his custody was taken by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigators.
He is being tried by the Accountability Court (AC) for alleged corrupt practices in different government departments (along with other accused) and missappropriation of huge funds causing big loss to the national exchequer.