Accountability Court sends Dr Asim to jail on judicial remand till Feb 22

KARACHI, February 9: Accountability Court in Karachi on Tuesday sent Dr Asim Hussain to jail on a judicial remand till February 22 in case regarding corruption, money laundering and granting illegal contracts.
Dr Asim was taken to the court by National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The investigation officer Zameer Abbasi presented a two-page report to the judge, stating that the former petroleum minister was unable to satisfy officers during investigation.
The report alleged Dr Asim of staging shortage of fertilizers during his tenure as federal minister which cost the government around Rs 450 billion. Report stated that Dr Asim granted unlawful favours to K-Electric. The officer stated that federal secretaries have also been contacted in this regard while the accused has also requested for time.
Subsequently, the court has sent Dr Asim to the jail till February 22. Earlier in January, it was reported that NAB had geared up to launch another reference against the former minister. Dr Hussain had allegedly crashed stock market in 2008 with help of the then finance minister.
Sources privy to the bureau had said that investors had lost billions of Rupees in 2008 as shares value had fallen drastically. Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) leader Dr Asim is facing a case filed by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for alleged corruption. The corruption accused is being tried for a case in anti-terrorism court (ATC) also.-DNA