KARACHI, March 29: The Sindh High Court on Wednesday approved the bail plea of Pakistan Peoples Party leader and former petroleum minster Dr Asim Hussain in two corruption references filed against him by the National Accountability Bureau.
The SHC’s referee judge approved the bail on medical grounds against a sum of Rs500,000, after having reserved his judgement on March 20. The court ordered him to submit his Pakistani and Canadian passports.
SHC chief justice had appointed Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar as a referee judge to decide the bail applications, following a split verdict by an SHC division bench on the bail issue in February this year.
Later during the day the Anti Terrorism Court issued release orders for Dr Asim.
His lawyer, Anwar Mansoor Khan, had informed the judges that his client’s health condition was worsening and he required complete rest and medical treatment.
Dr Asim is currently undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Cardiovascular diseases.
Dr Asim, a close aide of former president and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, faces several charges including corruption references filed by NAB of Rs 479 billion. He is also alleged to have provided treatment and protection to terrorists at a hospital owned by him.
In a video clip in June 2016 he levelled serious allegations against PPP’s Owais Muzaffar alias Tappi, accusing him of being involved in corruption. However, he maintains he was tortured to extract confessional statements.-Agencies
