Dr Asim denies submitting written resignation

KARACHI: Dr Asim Hussain, former petroleum minister and a close aide to former president and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari, told journalists on Saturday he had not submitted any written resignation.
Speaking outside Anti-Terrorism Court-II after an appearance in a terrorism case, he said he had informed Zardari that as he was going abroad for six months for surgery, it was not possible for him to continue working as president of the PPP’s Karachi Division. However, he said he would continue working as a worker of the party.
Hussain said that after returning from abroad he might be able to take over charge as the Karachi president of the party.
Earlier, the court partly recorded the statement of the Rangers’ prosecutor and put off the hearing.
Hussain is alleged to have provided medical treatment to some outlaws at his two hospitals in Karachi. It is alleged that Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Abdul Qadir Patel, Anees Qaimkhani, Usman Moazzam, Saleem Shehzad and others had asked him to assist the criminals of Lyari gang and others by providing them medical treatment in his (Dr Asim’s) hospitals. The case was lodged by the Rangers and the now court on Saturday inquired about the validity of the documents presented by the Rangers’ prosecutor who presented photo copies of the case documents. The case now would be taken up after returning of Dr Asim Hussain from abroad as he has been granted permission to leave abroad for medical treatment. Dr Asim Hussain and another PPP leader Abdul Qadir Patel, Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leader Anis Qamikhani, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P) leader Rauf Siddiqui and former MQM leader Saleem Shahzad (all are on bail) are facing this terror case.