ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court directed Rangers on Friday to provide best possible treatment to former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain by doctors of his choice.

The directive was issued by a two-judge bench comprising Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany and Justice Dost Mohammad Khan during a preliminary hearing of a petition moved by Dr Zareen Hussain, wife of Dr Hussain, against the Sindh High Court’s Sept 23 order.

The high court had said in its order that Dr Hussain could be discharged from the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease (NICVD) in Karachi if the Rangers’ doctors were satisfied with his health.

Take a look: Dr Asim case: Rangers deny contempt of SHC order

Dr Hussain, a close confidant of former president Asif Ali Zardari, has been under the custody of the paramilitary force since his arrest on Aug 26 for alleged involvement in a graft-related scam.

Petitioner Dr Zareen, represented by senior counsel Abid S. Zuberi, had requested the Supreme Court to allow continuation of her husband’s treatment at the NICVD till its medical review board declared that he was fit to be discharged.

While adjourning the hearing to Oct 7, the apex court issued notices to the federal interior ministry, Sindh home department, Rangers and NICVD with an observation that the court was concerned about the security of Dr Hussain.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the Rangers had failed to comply with an undertaking given to the high court for conducting appropriate tests and taken away Dr Hussain before formally discharging him from the hospital.

The court asked the counsel if he considered his client to be more safe other than in Rangers’ custody and recalled how important witnesses to the murder of social workers like Parween Rehman and Sabeen Mehmood and journalist Wali Babar had been killed in the past.

If the counsel was satisfied with the security available to his client at the hospital then the court was inclined to order his shifting back to the hospital, the court observed.

But Mr Zuberi argued that his client would not get the best available health facilities in the Rangers’ custody.

The court then directed the paramilitary force to provide Dr Hussain doctors of his choice as well as the best possible medical treatment.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd , 2015

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