An accountability court on Wednesday extended physical remand of former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain till February 9 in a case regarding corruption, money laundering and granting illegal contracts.
The accused was produced by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) official before the court. Meanwhile, an investigation report was also filed by the NAB in the court which accused Dr Asim of creating shortage of fertilizer during his tenure as federal minister which cost the government around Rs 450 billion. The report also charged Dr Asim for corrupt practices and granting unlawful favours to the K-Electric.
The NAB investigation officer requested the court to grant 15 days more remand of the former minister. The defendant’s counsel stated that his client was ill and the medical board of Jinnah Hospital had recommended a surgery owing to back-ache. He also requested the court to allow shifting of Dr Asim to Agha Khan Hospital for surgery. One member of his family should be allowed to stay with him, he added.
However, after hearing the arguments, the court rejected Dr Asim’s plea for shifting him to Aga Khan Hospital.
It may be added that the NAB is working to file another reference against Dr Asim for allegedly manoeuvring stock market crash with the help of then finance minister in 2008 in which investors had lost billions of rupees. Dr Asim, who was petroleum minister during Pakistan People’s Party’s government, is facing a case filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for alleged corruption. He is also being tried for a terrorism case registered at North Nazimabad Police Station by Rangers for allegedly sheltering target killers and militants at his hospital in Karachi. The Sindh police have given Dr Asim a clean chit in terror case, however, Rangers is pursuing the case.
