Rangers tell ATC evidence spoiled but NAB seeks trial

Dr Asim case

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has filed a reference against former PPP minister Dr Asim Hussain requesting the accountability court to try him for corruption and causing a huge loss to the national exchequer.

However, contrary to the NAB’s request, the Rangers told the accountability court that investigation officer DSP Altaf Hussain had spoiled the evidence against the accused. A Rangers official claimed that some nine bills out of 27 had been removed from the list of documents provided to him by the former IO. He said the bills pertained to the medical treatment of alleged terrorists.

A report submitted to the accountability court said after completion of interrogation the NAB chairman had approved a reference against Dr Asim for causing a loss of around Rs450 billion to the national exchequer.

The investigating officer informed the court that the same reference would be submitted in the next hearing. The court accepted the report and fixed Feb 29 for the re-trial.

On the other hand, the Rangers attorney submitted applications against the investigating officer for his alleged biased role in the trial and in charge ‘Maal Khana’ (a place where case properties are stored) claiming that the two were trying to influence the case.

However, DSP Altaf Hussain said the Rangers had their own view in investigating the matter and his interrogation was not matching the same desired view.

Dr Asim is facing two cases in two different courts. In the accountability court-I he faces a corruption reference while in ATC-II) he faces a case pertaining to charges of facilitation and provision of treatment to alleged criminals at his hospital.

The court extended the period of interim bail to Mayor-designate Waseem Akhtar and former provincial minister and a senior leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Rauf Siddiqui till March 5.

The court issued a notice to DSP Altaf Hussain on the missing of nine bills and asked him to explain.

The IO, who was previously directed to contact the Nadra authorities concerned for obtaining details of the record of some absconding accused, told the court that the Nadra had not provided sound details about Saleem Shehzad, one of the accused.

He said instead of Saleem Shehzad, the authority provided details about another absconder Syed Saleemullah. He said such details had nothing to with the case in which Dr Asim Hussain was being tried. 

The court again directed the IO to obtain details from the immigration authorities. 

It may be mentioned that Nadra had claimed that it had provided necessary details to the IO on February 15.

The court once again issued non-bailable arrest warrants for MQM leaders Anis Qaimkhani and Saleem Shehzad and PPP leader Qadir Patel.

Waseem Akhtar, Rauf Siddiqui and Pakistan Pasban leader Usman Moa’azam were present in the court.   Talking to the media outside the court, Dr Asim Hussain alleged that he was being victimised.