References filed against Dr Asim Hussain in accountability court

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

KARACHI: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday filed references against Dr Asim Hussain in an accountability court.

In the references submitted to court, there are 3,074 pieces of evidence against Hussain, alleging corruption amounting to RS462 billion against the former petroleum minister.

The accountability court has accepted the references submitted today.

Hussain, a close aide of former president Asif Zardari, is facing allegations of alleged misuse of authority in fraudulent allotment of plots and encroachment of state land for Dr Ziauddin Hospital, illegal gains and kickbacks.

He is also accused of receiving commission through the fertilizer cartel for illegal curtailment of gas for exploitive price hike and black marketing between 2010 and 2012, in addition to fraud with the general public and money laundering.

NAB initiated an inquiry involving an amount of Rs13bn against the former petroleum minister.

Earlier in February, after spending around five and a half months in the custody of different law enforcement agencies, an accountability court sent Hussain to prison on judicial remand in a corruption inquiry being conducted by NAB.

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Pakistan

Ishaq Tanoli is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 20 years of experience covering judicial and electoral affairs. His reporting focuses on the proceedings of the Supreme Court and Sindh High Court, as well as election matters. He can be found on X at @ishaqtanolihotm.

The end of reconciliation?

Fighting corruption

Parties’ stance on corruption

Fair

Feb 25, 2016 05:25pm

Why only Dr. Asim, where r others

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kanwarch

Feb 25, 2016 05:29pm

How a single person inflict so much damage to the motherland and do so much corruption? Mind boggling

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Javed Arshad

Feb 25, 2016 05:43pm

May the justice prevail.

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khangul

Feb 25, 2016 05:51pm

The nation is waiting how the National Accountability Bureau takes on the mega corruption cases?

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M.Saeed

Feb 25, 2016 06:04pm

Why does't Asim play the famous plea-bargain and get free tomorrow?

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sohail

Feb 25, 2016 06:10pm

Why no talk of corruption in punjab???? We smell double standard

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Raja Idrees

Feb 25, 2016 06:12pm

Waow that is 4 billion dollars for 1 man and enough now for 4000 MW or back then for 6000 MW electricity enough for no load shedding.

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Arslan

Feb 25, 2016 06:25pm

$4bn looting through ONE man ... And there are many Asim alikes in Pakistan. And these politicians complain about military spending!?

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sohail

Feb 25, 2016 06:28pm

There are many Dr Asim in.Punjab even bigger but nobody is bothered to take any action against them.

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Imran ali

Feb 25, 2016 06:28pm

3074 evidence against Azim...? collected in 5 months..let see who wins the game ..

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M.Saeed

Feb 25, 2016 06:34pm

@sohail : Biggest fish first! Can you find anyone even half comparable from Punjab?

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SirCaustic

Feb 25, 2016 06:41pm

RS462 billion is a lot , he should be made example for all the crooks!

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Onlooker

Feb 25, 2016 08:09pm

Great job! Save this poor nation from these robbers.

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Nadeem

Feb 25, 2016 08:16pm

When will this drana end, when will he be put behind the bars??? He faced terrorism charges also, where did those go??

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Justice

Feb 25, 2016 08:37pm

NAB need to do their job without any discrimination, they should not be afraid to file corruption charges against PML-N high profile corrupt political leaders including Nawaz Sharif and NAB has to make sure civilian court don't drag these cases forever in the court, they should demand for quick trial and verdit.

Recommend 0

Zafar

Feb 25, 2016 08:43pm

@Raja Idrees Very good points. That is why it is so important to clean from the top. Because the damage done by these crimes has serious negative repercussions on the country and the economy.

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Salman

Feb 25, 2016 10:11pm

He should not be able to escape now !

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Feb 25, 2016 10:30pm

""there are 3,074 pieces of evidence against Hussain"" and ""RS462 billion"" Is it some sort of a joke? In our present judicial system, it takes a lot to prove even one solid evidence. So, good luck to prove. Do not expect to recover a single Rupee from the 462 Billions. See, we have already spent Six months, just to file charges. Also, RS462 billion, is lot of money. Did nobody notice it disappear? Where are those accounts people and all the auditors? Bring them, to the dock.

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HBK

Feb 25, 2016 11:08pm

462 billion? I don't have any words. There's is your another reason for military rule.

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F. Saeed

Feb 25, 2016 11:32pm

@ Why not. He is a good person to start with. But by no means it should be singled out and other cases should follow.

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Philosopher (from Japan)

Feb 26, 2016 01:55am

@M.Saeed sure. How about Rana mashood and ishaq dar????

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Socrates of Gilgit-baltistan

Feb 26, 2016 02:18am

But how one can be hopeful about the integrity of all those who are investigating the case against this guy who has fearlessly broken all records of eating the flesh of the motherland because who knows they too start to think otherwise by prefering their own interests ahead of the interest of the country like Dr. looter.

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Ejaz Khan

Feb 26, 2016 04:29am

Where is the 462 billion. This is not small money to keep in the pocket. Who has paid the commission or bribe. I am not convinced. Please provide the proof and gave the all documented proof to media.

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Samir

Feb 26, 2016 06:37am

@M.Saeed- Nawaz Sharif to start with!

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M. Johri

Feb 26, 2016 06:45am

@Fair Yah, where Zardari and other Blawal house residents fit in this "GREAT KARACH CORRUPTION" ,and what about Punjab's great saints?

Recommend 0

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