Dr Asim booked for helping terrorists

KARACHI: The paramilitary force in Sindh registered a terrorism-related case against former federal minister for petroleum Dr Asim Hussain at the North Nazimabad Police Station on Wednesday for allegedly facilitating criminals and terrorists at his private hospital.
The development took place soon after the expiry of the 90-day remand that the Sindh Rangers had obtained from an anti-terrorism court for interrogation after his arrest in August.A senior police officer said a superintendent of the Sindh Rangers was the complainant in the case.
According to the FIR, Asim Hussain facilitated criminals and terrorists by getting them treated at the two branches of his hospital in Karachi. Other allegations have also been levelled against him.
The complainant said they had taken Hussain into custody on August 26 from his residence under Section 11-EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, and a joint interrogation team was formed after getting approval from the provincial government.
He further said that Hussain admitted before the JIT that he had facilitated criminals and terrorists belonging to banned organisations and the Lyari gang war as well as workers of political parties at the two branches of his hospital situated in North Nazimabad and Clifton. Those who were treated had been injured during encounters with police and Rangers.
Asim Hussain was said to have also informed the team that he had committed the offence on the request of three leaders of a certain political party and also a leader of the ruling party in Sindh.
The FIR mentioned that the hospitals also provided logistical support to criminals and terrorists. It said that while he was the petroleum minister in the PPP government in 2008, he had recruited several people against money and also awarded contracts to people known to him.
He was serving as the chairman of the Sindh Higher Education Commission when he was arrested.According to reports, Hussain’s custody has been given to DIG West Feroz Shah for further investigations.Meanwhile, Dr Asim’s name was put on the ECL on the recommendation of NAB.