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SHC dismisses Qaimkhani’s bail plea

By our correspondents
July 22, 2016

Karachi

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Thursday dismissed the bail application of Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leader Anis Qaimkhani in a case pertaining to providing shelter and medical treatment to criminals.

SHC’s division bench headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh observed the application was premature in nature and the applicant should have first approached the trial court for obtaining a bail.

His counsel had filed a second bail plea a day earlier after he was arrested as the court rejected an extension in Qaimkhani as well as other co-accused’ bail pleas.

According to the prosecution, former federal petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain, a close aide of PPP co-chairman and former President Asif Ali Zardari, had provided medical treatment and shelter to terrorists of banned outfits, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Lyari gangs at his private hospital.

The FIR of the case registered by Sindh Rangers nominated PPP leader Qadir Patel and MQM leaders Rauf Siddiqui, Waseem Akhter, Saleem Shahzad.

Disassociating himself from the MQM in March this year - following his suspension from the party in 2013 - Qaimkhani was nominated in the case during his time in MQM.

His counsel, Mohammad Farooq, had submitted that the applicant was implicated in the case on the basis of an accused’ (Dr Hussain) statement and a JIT’s report, and both had no legal value.

He maintained that there were no specific allegations against his client, and hence requested for him to be granted bail.