ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that an independent medical board be constituted to perform a medical check-up of former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain, who has been in Rangers’ custody since Aug 26 for his alleged role in terror financing.

A two-judge Supreme Court bench, headed by Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany had taken up an appeal filed by Dr Zareen Hussain – the wife of Dr Asim Hussain – against a Sindh High Court (SHC) order of Sept 23.

The SHC had allowed Hussain to be discharged from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (NICVD) in Karachi if Rangers’ own doctors were satisfied with his health. In response to the appeal, the Supreme Court directed Federal Health Secretary Ayub Sheikh to submit a report on the outcome of a medical board examination of Dr Hussain within two weeks.

Also read: SC orders Rangers to provide Dr Asim doctors of his choice

Senior counsel Abid S. Zuberi, representing Dr Hussain’s wife, argued that his client was not satisfied with the high court judgment, because it was based on a report by Rangers’ doctors and said that his client should be taken back to the hospital because he required immediate medical attention.

Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Sajid Ilyas Bhatti, who appeared on behalf of the federal government, did not object when he was asked whether the government had any objections to the constitution of an impartial medical board.

When asked to name a reputable cardiovascular hospital, the DAG suggested the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology in Rawalpindi, but Mr Zuberi opposed the idea. He said the hospital was military-run and the court should have Dr Hussain’s medical examination conducted by doctors from any public hospital.

Mr Zuberi also asked that no doctor from a military-run institution be included in the medical board, but said his client had no objection to the inclusion of doctors from Islamabad or Rawalpindi.

The court also granted Dr Hussain permission to see three family doctors; Dr Nida Hussain, Dr Abdul Samad and Dr Zahid Jamal, at his request and postponed further proceedings till October 28.

In his appeal, Dr Hussain had maintained that he be allowed to continue treatment at the NICVD till the hospital’s medical review board declared him stable. The appeal also asked the apex court to set aside the SHC order and direct Rangers to shift Dr Hussain to NICVD’s until the medical review board was satisfied with his health.

Dr Hussain also needed a brain and spinal MRI could be conducted in the presence of Rangers representatives at the Aga Khan Hospital or any other suitable hospital, at the cost of the petitioner.

The petition stated that the Rangers had already been made aware that Dr Hussain suffered from chronic back pain and, therefore, arrangements should have been made for physiotherapy, at the cost of the petitioner.

Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2015

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