ATC indicts Dr Asim, others in abetting terror case

Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar granted bail in two more cases; needs bail

in one more case to be set free

A few days after being granted bail by the Sindh High Court, former petroleum minister and Pakistan People’s Party leader Dr Asim Hussain was indicted on Saturday in the provision of medical treatment to terrorists case by an anti-terrorism court along with Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar, Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Rauf Siddiqui, another PPP leader Qadir Patel, Pak Sarzameen Party leader Anees Qaimkhani, and Pasban leader Usman Moazam.

The ailing Dr Asim was brought to the court in a wheelchair. He has recently suffered a paralysis attack. All the accused pleaded not guilty.

Dr Asim told the court that those who had framed charges against him too crime should be indicted.

"I don't feel well at all. My wife is also extremely ill. Pray for her," he added. 

Dr Asim is currently under custody on a range of offences including corruption worth Rs.480 billion and providing medical treatment to terrorists at his hospital.

Mayor gets bail into two more case

Earlier, an ATC granted bail to Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar in two more cases against a surety bond of Rs100,000 each. Now he has been granted bail in 38 of the 39 cases against him.

The Sindh High Court had granted bail Dr Asim, Siddiqui, Qaimkhani and Moazam on November 2 in the case pertaining to the charges of providing medical treatment to terrorists.

The bail was granted against a sum of Rs500,000 each and the passports of the accused were submitted to the court.

Siddiqui and Qaimkhani hadfulfilled the legal formalities and were released. The mayor has been granted bail in four cases pertaining to the charges of violence that took place on May 12, 2007. The amount of surety bond on Akhtar’s behalf has been deposited with the ATC. He has been granted bail in 38 cases and now only needs bail in one more case to be set free.