KARACHI: A five-member medical board examined Dr Asim Hussain on Monday at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and arrived at the conclusion that the former federal minister was suffering from “psychological issues and severe backache”, which required his prolonged stay at the hospital for effective treatment, officials and sources privy to the process said.

Headed by renowned psychiatrist Dr Haroon Ahmed, the board met for the second time within a month and is likely to send the final report to the court within the next few days.

“We met today [Monday] at the JPMC for our job and are likely to send the report to the court within the next couple of days,” said Dr Ahmed in his brief response to Dawn queries about the fresh medical examination and findings.

Dr Hussain was admitted to a heavily guarded medical facility at the JPMC last month a day after a medical board recommended treatment for his psychological ailments. The former petroleum minister was shifted to a room in the officers ward. Dr Hussain, who faces charges of terror financing and graft, suffered from neurological and psychological ailments and was shifted to the JPMC guarded by the paramilitary Rangers and police.

Five-member medical board re-examines the former federal minister before compiling a final report

“The five-member medical board was constituted as per direction of the accountability court on Jan 18 for the examination of Dr Hussain,” said a source citing details of the fresh meeting of the board.

“On Jan 19, the board examined Dr Hussain and after the check-up he was diagnosed with suffering from neurological problems apart from psychological disturbances and in need of urgent treatment. The Monday meeting was second of the same kind after the Jan 19 examination. After the fresh examination, the board will compile its recommendations.”

The source said all the board members including psychiatrist Prof Iqbal Afridi, neurologist Dr Raza K. Rizvi, radiologist Dr Tariq Mahmood and professor of medicine Dr Rukhsana Sattar examined Dr Hussain and forwarded their recommendations to the board head so as to make them part of the final report, he added.

“The board has found that Dr Hussain has a history of blood pressure and hypertension but those problems are being controlled through medication though he’s still under the law enforcement agency’s custody,” he said. “However, he has been lately suffering from severe backache and psychological issues. The board believes these new problems that he has been facing require his prolonged stay at the hospital for effective treatment.”

Dr Hussain has been examined several times earlier, which included a week-long stay at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases last year. While he was still under treatment, the Rangers took him away “without informing the administration”, according to the NICVD.

The former federal minister, also a close aide of the former president and Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Asif Ali Zardari, was handed over to the National Accountability Bureau for a corruption inquiry after the Rangers detained him for three months to question him for his alleged involvement in terror financing.

Arrest challenged in SHC

Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing of a constitutional petition challenging the arrest of Pakistan Peoples Party leader Dr Asim Hussain till Feb 22.

Dr Aijaz Fatima, Dr Hussain’s mother, filed a constitutional petition impleading the police, the Rangers and the federal government while challenging his arrest and detention by the Rangers under Section 11-EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, a two-judge bench of the high court directed the federal government law officer to ensure the filing of comments of the respondent authorities at the next hearing.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2016