ISLAMABAD: Former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain moved the Supreme Court on Thursday and requested it to allow continuation of his treatment at a cardiovascular hospital (NICVD) in Karachi till its medical review board declares that he is fit to be discharged.

A two-judge bench comprising Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Dost Mohammad Khan will take up the hurriedly moved petition.

Dr Hussain, a close confident of former president Asif Ali Zardari, was arrested on Aug 26 for his alleged involvement in a graft-related scam and later handed over to Rangers on a 90-day custody.

Take a look: Wife’s plea to keep Dr Asim hospitalised rejected

Senior counsel Abid S. Zuberi submitted the petition on behalf of Dr Zareen Hussain, wife of Dr Hussain. It criticised the Sept 23 order of the Sindh High Court allowing the discharge of Dr Hussain from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (NICVD) if Rangers’ doctors were satisfied with his health.

But the SHC asked Rangers to strictly comply with their undertaking to provide all possible medical treatment to him.

Dr Zareen requested the Supreme Court to set aside the high court order and direct Rangers to keep her husband under the care and supervision of NICVD until its medical review board was satisfied that the accused could be released safely.

According to the petition, Dr Hussain needed brain and Lumbosacral spine MRI on Telsa 1.5 machine and the additional attorney general had assured the high court in the presence of Rangers’ representatives that the test would be conducted at the Aga Khan Hospital or any other suitable hospital at the cost of the petitioner.

Despite the undertaking and promises made in the high court, the paramilitary force had failed to conduct appropriate tests, the petition said, adding that a letter dispatched to Rangers on Sept 8 specifically pointed out that failure to comply with the SHC order would amount to contempt of court.

The paramilitary force was also informed that Dr Hussain was a chronic sufferer of back pain and, therefore, arrangements should be made for his physiotherapy at the cost of the petitioner.

But Rangers refused to abide by their undertaking and the petitioner having no other option filed the contempt of court plea in the high court which issued notices to the respondents for Sept 23.

On Sept 22, the petition said, Dr Zareen received a call from Rangers asking her to immediately rush to the NICVD where her husband faced an urgent medical situation. Upon reaching there, it transpired that Rangers had taken Dr Hussain to some other hospital where irregular treatment was proposed to be administered but on his refusal he was taken to the NICVD.

The ECG result of Dr Hussain, the petition claimed, showed changes indicating a heart attack and an acute kidney failure. As a result, he was admitted in the NICVD. The mismanaged medical care administered by Rangers almost led to multiple organ failure, the appeal alleged.

On Sept 28, Dr Zareen said, she was informed that all medical records of her husband had been removed from the hospital. Later it became clear that Dr Hussain was removed from the NICVD without consent or approval of its medical board and doctors. She said the report clearly showed that her husband was not fit to be removed from the hospital.

Under the garb of the high court, the appeal feared, the authorities could claim that Dr Hussain was completely fit and not entitled to be eased on his medical condition as the satisfaction of Rangers’ doctors was sufficient in the circumstances. Such an adverse inference was not only dangerous to the life of Dr Hussain but also deprived him of grounds which were otherwise validly available to him, the petition said.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2015

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