Rangers not happy with ‘influential’ men out on bail

Ask ATC to initiate proceedings against Dr Asim and other co-accused in terrorism case

The Sindh Rangers took a stand on Wednesday in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) against “influential” men who are out on bail, asking the court to initiate proceedings against them.

They took an exception the Sindh High Court disposing of the terror case against Dr Asim Hussain, former federal petroleum minister and a close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari.

The prosecutor of the paramilitary force said the complainant and witnesses in the terror case were being pressurised. He, however, did not hold any specific accused responsible.

He said the SHC had passed an order in November to complete the proceedings within two months. He underlined that all the accused in the terror case were more influential and were now out on bail.

The Rangers, who are also stakeholders in the terror case, took a stand in the ATC hearing the case against Hussain, Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Rauf Siddiqui, former MQM member Saleem Shehzad, Pasban’s Usman Moazzam, Pak Sarzameen Party’s Anis Qaimkhani and Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Qadir Patel.

They complained that two of the accused, namely Hussain and Moazzam, had already been permitted by the ATC to go abroad for receiving medical treatment.

The ATC had allowed Hussain to go abroad for medical treatment for two weeks on April 15 and had directed him to deposit Rs2 million as surety before leaving. The court had also permitted Moazzam to leave the country for medical treatment.

Shehzad and Patel appeared in court, which fixed May 11 as the next date of hearing for framing charges against the defendants.

The court had already directed the investigating officer to provide the copies of the case to each of the accused so that it could indict them on May 11.

The Rangers’ attorney had always opposed Hussain’s plea for relief, whether it was the question of granting him bail or issuing him medical certificates proving that he was ailing so he could be permitted to go abroad.

Moreover, the attorney has repeatedly accused the IO of either ruining the evidence or finding some other means to indirectly support Hussain in many legal matters.

Now the Rangers have filed a fresh application to initiate proceedings against the former minister and other accused for early disposal of the terror cases in accordance with the past directives of the SHC. The ATC is yet to pass its ruling on the plea.