Anis Qaimkhani shifted to JPMC for ‘backache, stomach issues’

Karachi

Senior Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leader Anis Qaimkhani was on Thursday shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s (JPMC) special ward after he complained of a ‘backache’ and an ‘upset stomach’.

The dissident Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader was imprisoned at the central jail after an anti-terrorism court (ATC) rejected his and other co-accused’ bail pleas on July 19 in a case pertaining to getting criminals treated and providing them shelter former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain’s hospitals.

“Anis Qaimkhani was in a lot of pain when he was brought to JPMC today. He complained of backache and stomach issues and was shifted to the special ward after an initial check up,” claimed JPMC Joint Executive Director Dr Seemin Jamali.

She said consultants including gastroenterologists and orthopaedics had examined Qaimkhani’s condition and suggested an MRI and endoscopy to ascertain problems troubling the patient.

A panel of doctors would suggest the proper course of treatment for the PSP leader after his medical reports would have been acquired, she stated, adding that he probably had some disc issues in addition to gastric problems.

He was housed at the famous ‘Zardari Ward’ in Central Jail Karachi, a VVIP cell where former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari was kept during his time in jail. The prison was being shared by Qaimkhani and PPP leader Abdul Qadir Patel.

Qaimkhani was apprehended along with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) officials Waseem Akhter and Rauf Siddiqui as well as Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Qadir Patel in a case pertaining to providing shelter and medical treatment to terrorists at Dr Asim Hussain’s hospital in Karachi.

Qaimkhani, who had a few months ago disassociated himself from the MQM; he was charged for the crimes committed during his association with the MQM. Suspended from MQM, Qaimkhani after returning to Pakistan, on March 3, had submitted that he was out of country when the case was registered and appeared in court to obtain a pre-arrest bail as soon as he found out about the case.

His counsel, Mohammad Farooq, submitted that the applicant was implicated in the case on the basis of statement of the accused as well as a JIT’s report which had no legal value and that there were no specific allegations against his client. He requested the court to grant him bail in the case.