Former petroleum adviser Dr Asim Hussain taken for questioning

KARACHI: Officials in plain clothes raided the office of Chairman Sindh Higher Education Commission Dr Asim Hussain on Wednesday, taking him away to an undisclosed location for questioning.

Sources said at least 11 officials, who likely belonged to an investigative agency, arrived at the Sindh HEC office in Karachi’s upscale Clifton area where a meeting was underway. Sources said that Azra Pehchuho, Mazhar Siddiqui and Dr Iqbal Durrani were also present during the meeting.

The officials questioned Dr Hussain at his office for about half an hour before escorting him away in a white-colored vehicle.

A close confidante of former president and Pakistan People's Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Hussain has previously served as adviser to the prime minister on petroleum during the last PPP government. He is currently serving as the chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Sindh.

Hussain was recently out of the country and had returned to Karachi only a few days ago.

It was unclear if Dr Hussain had been formally detained or on what charges he was being questioned as no investigative agency or law enforcement department has yet issued a comment regarding the incident.

But sources told Geo News that Dr Hussain had been summoned by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the country’s main anti-corruption watchdog. Hussain had departed the country for Dubai after getting protective bail in a case, and returned to Karachi only four days ago, the sources added.

They said that a team of 11 officials from two different investigation agencies raided Hussain's offices today and also took away important documents with them.

Khursheed Shah condemns Dr Hussain’s ‘arrest’

Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Islamabad, PPP senior leader Khursheed Shah condemned what he described as Dr Hussain’s "arrest for questioning".

Shah said that, as per his information, Hussain had been taken away for investigation. When asked, he did not disclose who had taken him away or on what charges.