An accountability court on Tuesday allowed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to keep former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain in physical custody for another 14 days.
The NAB prosecutor asked Administrative Judge of Accountability Court Saad Qureshi for a 14-day extension in Dr Asim’s remand.
Dr Asim, who is a Pakistan People’s Party leader, has been in NAB custody since December 11 last year. He is facing an inquiry for charges of misuse of authority in allotment of plots and encroachment of state land for Dr Ziauddin Hospital, kickbacks and commission through a fertiliser cartel for illegal curtailment, fraud with the public in the name of a charity hospital and money-laundering.
The prosecution said that 80 per cent of the investigation against Dr Asim was complete and two more weeks were needed to complete the probe. Defence lawyers Amir Raza Naqvi and Anwar Mansoor Khan, however, pleaded for no further detention of their client citing psychological pressure. Dr Asim was physically and mentally disturbed due to his detention, they added.
They maintained that he was not required for the investigation any longer and prayed the court to send him to prison on judicial remand. Dr Haroon, who was ordered to conduct a psychological check-up of Dr Asim, in his report presented in the court, said that he (Dr Asim) was under extreme mental stress and should be provided with a relaxed environment. He also recommended medical tests including MRI of Dr Asim. The court directed the NAB to conduct the recommended medical tests and investigations, take the reports to Dr Haroon and then comply with his directions.
