Dr Asim Hussain booked under terror charges

Syed Irfan Raza Imtiaz Ali Published November 25, 2015

KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Karachi police on Wednesday registered a case against former petroleum minister and PPP leader Dr. Asim Hussain under terror charges.

The development comes a day before the end of a 90-day physical remand of Dr. Asim in Rangers custody on charges of terror financing.

A senior police officer who wished not to be named told Dawn.com that North Nazimabad police have registered the case against Dr. Asim, a close aide of former president and PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, under Anti-Terrorism Act of 1999.

However, the officer appeared reluctant to share more information about the nature of charges or if there were other co-accused in the case.

Image of the FIR registered in North Nazimabad police station. ─DawnNews screengrab

Dr Asim name put on ECL

The interior ministry has put Dr Asim Hussain's name on the Exit Control List (ECL), sources said.

According to details, the decision was taken following the request of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Sources further said NAB is likely to seek custody of Dr Asim to investigate three separate cases against him related to alleged corruption and his role in terror financing.

The former petroleum minister was arrested by Sindh Rangers from the office of Higher Education Commission in Clifton on August 26, 2015.

NAB is a part of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) formed to investigate Dr Asim’s alleged corruption and his role in terror financing.

On the other hand, NAB is currently investigating three new corruption cases against Dr Asim, sources added.

These include illegal affiliation of medical colleges with Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), issuance of licences for dozens of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations and other corrupt practices.

Pakistan

Imtiaz Ali is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 25 years of experience in the field. His reporting portfolio encompasses crime, politics, and the provincial legislature, alongside coverage of the courts, government affairs, and the health sector.

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PakiForum

Nov 25, 2015 11:59pm

Hats off to Chaudry Nisar for at taking this decision against all odds.

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Iqbal khan

Nov 26, 2015 12:00am

Don't waste your time.Zardari is a free man in Cotecna case and all other cases were also dropped against him and so as cases against our prime minister.Its a matter of time when the man will be out and free and will be holding a very important portfolio again.

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Hussain

Nov 26, 2015 12:11am

we may appreciate to Rangers,who has really been doing well since karachi operation. This credit does go to Army chief ,who is bothering about country and public.

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Rashid Ishaq

Nov 26, 2015 12:31am

In addition to Dr Asim, Sharjeel Memon's name is also in ECL but currently he is already out of country and I am sure he won't come back now

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Harmony-1©

Nov 26, 2015 12:42am

I just hope forces behind Ayyan Ali are not going to pull the rug from everyone's feet in this case too. Let's hope justice takes its full course!

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M Jamal

Nov 26, 2015 12:45am

It seem that the most corrupt man in this country since 1947 is Dr Asim grandson of Sir Ziauddin,the others are all angels.He has been under investigation for 90 days but nothing has materialised so our courts must get first hand report and put up his case for hearing if any crime has been committed.

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Zafar

Nov 26, 2015 01:08am

@M Jamal Look at yourself. This is the mindset which has gotten us here. We don't know the degree of corruption here - is it not enough that this man is corrupt and has stolen from the resources of Pakistan!

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javed

Nov 26, 2015 01:49am

@Iqbal khan You think he should come back to Pakistan now.

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Believe

Nov 26, 2015 02:00am

What about big whales still swimming around.

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Asif

Nov 26, 2015 02:27am

I wonder what kind of people are running my country? Who are these people? I am 100% sure these guys don't belong here.

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khan

Nov 26, 2015 02:42am

I'm confident that NAB will bring this high profile case to closure. As the case unfolds I'm sure it will expose few others who will be implicated.

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Nov 26, 2015 02:44am

@PakiForum What hats off... this is how they do it, NAB won't find anything and he will be free man soon

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Khwarezmi

Nov 26, 2015 02:48am

Supreme Court has stated that all political parties in Karachi has an armed wings. These armed wings are responsible for countless deaths, terror and economic stagnation of the largest city in the world.

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AntiCorruption

Nov 26, 2015 02:59am

@M Jamal .. dr asim may not be the most corrupt man; but it seems he does have some serious allegations for which he must face justice. We can not exonerate him only because more corrupt are roaming free. We must however demand the bigger fish be netted as well.

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Abdullah

Nov 26, 2015 03:27am

Please take these cases to logical conclusion and give exemplary punishment to all those looted this country, do not end up in bargaining deals and getting something out from these accused and set them free. Nation is seeing this drama for quite sometime now ( read it decades) and almost lost faith on these type of news.

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Nov 26, 2015 03:31am

Unfortunately, the euphoria of arresting this corrupt fellow is going to be short lived. The fraternity of corrupt politicians is so damn strong that they have become untouchable. Behind the scene give n take would be negotiated n everything would be kosher again. How sad!

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Yasmin

Nov 26, 2015 03:41am

Tbese cases should be moving at the speed of light A lot cleansing to done Come on legal system of Pakistan heads out of ground please

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malick

Nov 26, 2015 04:32am

@Iqbal khan .....U right, NS will never wish to execute Zardari and vice versa, as both are looting the country turn by turn. We not expecting any order of any Court against these two. COAS is visiting the foreign countries bust with his allowances. He is not concerned with such looting.

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Nov 26, 2015 04:47am

This is not fare at all, you can't try a professional to Terrorism. Did he support terrorism

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mohammed ahmed khan

Nov 26, 2015 04:58am

You all believe he was on his own? Without PPP, PML-N and MQM ?

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khan

Nov 26, 2015 04:58am

Just wondering, how much they need? Is there any limit of their hunger? Is there ?

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Tania

Nov 26, 2015 05:23am

Uzair baloch speaks up

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Ahmed

Nov 26, 2015 05:40am

Corrupt politicians and Mafia operating n have operated under the name of Democracy.

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zaheer

Nov 26, 2015 06:45am

it is not Nisar(pmln). It is Army who is screwing them all.

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Karachite

Nov 26, 2015 07:01am

When will this man be punished? When will there be justice?

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noshin

Nov 26, 2015 07:20am

zardari's beloved Dr. Asim!

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Bizzarre

Nov 26, 2015 07:52am

The only corrupt person nabbed. Job done. Pakistan on road to prosperity.

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Imran Khan

Nov 26, 2015 07:57am

All you will see that how the story of this man will ended like Zardari and Shareef.

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M Jamal

Nov 26, 2015 08:24am

@Zafar There are two things(1)For the last 90 days we are only hearing Mr Asim is the only person who is corrupt and terrorist financier and regretfully no other person of his stature has these qualities in Pakistan.Why this selective action.Rest are all angels.(2)Why he has not been presented in the court to face the charges, if any.

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A. Ali

Nov 26, 2015 08:36am

book him wherever we don care .... where's the money he plundered and who are his real partners in haste ? name them, identify them with pictures and get us our money back please....

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Muhammad Irfan

Nov 26, 2015 09:04am

Its a big & good news for the whole nation...but 'big fish' must be netted...&...the most important is that the 'operation cleanup' must be launched across the board as well, particularity in Punjab.

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Pak Citizen

Nov 26, 2015 09:44am

Do not waste time. Big Fishes including him will never get punishment.

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Karachi wala

Nov 26, 2015 09:46am

Besides Dr. Asim, name of Shar jeel memon is also put on ECL. Mr. Shar jeel is already out of country and putting him ECL is meant to advise him not to return to Pakistan. Shame governance!

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Karachi wala

Nov 26, 2015 09:47am

Dr. Asim is charged only because he belongs to Karachi. None of the other corrupts from PPP, PML(N) and are arrested belonging to other parts of country.

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Anees A.

Nov 26, 2015 11:13am

@Iqbal khan Even what you said comes out to be true, the fact that the government has gone this far in their fight is praise-worthy and probably unprecedented. I hope for the justice to prevail but the government needs our support in the mean time.

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Sohail

Nov 26, 2015 11:26am

Please don't play with the sentiments of this nation. Nothing will happen until you grab big fishes in Punjab much bigger than Dr. Asim.

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khalid pervez qureshi.

Nov 26, 2015 11:33am

result like other cases: use less expenditures by public money.

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Abdul Karim

Nov 28, 2015 03:12am

Looks dodgy and fabricated. Will have to wait and see. Hope justice prevails in any case.