Hearing of Dr Asim’s bail plea adjourned

The Sindh High Court adjourned on Tuesday the hearing of a bail application filed by former federal petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain until December 26.

Dr Hussain had sought bail and the quashment of NAB references against him.

The former minister and other accused faces charges of fraudulent allotment and illegal encroachment of the state land through breach of trust, money laundering and extending undue favours to handpicked a fertiliser cartel through illegal and unjustified curtailment of gas for exploitative price hike and black marketing and derangement of load management priority between 2010 and 2013, causing a loss to the national exchequer worth Rs.450 billion.

The petitioner’s counsel, Sardar Lateef Khoso, submitted that Dr Hussain was ill and admitted to a hospital for medical treatment so his bail application should be heard on an urgent basis.

The NAB counsel submitted that the investigation officer of the case was not present as matter was earlier adjourned by the court and sought adjournment as the presence of the officer was necessary to proceed with the case. The court adjourned the hearing of the case till December 26.