Court to indict Dr Asim in corruption references on April 7

March 27, 2016

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The accountability court (AC) will indict former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain on April 7 in two corruption references.

The court heard the cases on Saturday and adjourned the hearing until April 7. As the hearing proceeded, the court expressed its displeasure over jail authorities for not presenting the alleged corrupt ex-minister in the last hearing.

It should be mentioned here that acting Canadian High Commissioner was present in the court room. The accused briefly conversed with the High Commissioner after the hearing. Dr Asim’s mother and brother were also present.

One of the references alleges Dr Asim of Rs 462 billion graft while another of Rs 13 billion corruption. He is accused of money-laundering, having hidden property, illegal allotments, land grabbing, misuse of authority, fraud and giving illegal contracts during his tenure in Sui Southern Gas Pipelines Limited (SSGPL).

In a talk with a private TV channel after the hearing, Dr Asim said that he would crumble if he was kept malnourished. Dr Asim was apprehended in August 2015 by Pakistan Rangers from Higher Education Commission (HEC) office.

The ex-minister is facing terrorism case in an anti-terrorism court (ATC) as well. He is accused of providing safe havens and medical treatment to target killers and terrorists in his hospital in Sindh metropolitan.

The accused has pleaded not guilty in both the corruption and terror references. On March 25, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had sought reply from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on April 26 on plea filed by Safdar Hussain who was nominated in corruption reference against former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain.

Earlier this month, the accountability bureau had approved to bring a fresh reference against Dr Asim for alleged graft of Rs 17 billion. According to NAB, Dr Asim committed graft while conspiring with officers in granting contracts during his time as minister. The NAB stated that Dr Asim’s wrongdoings caused loss of at least Rs 17 billion to the national treasury.