KARACHI: An accountability court was informed on Thursday that a medical board had recommended hospitalisation of former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain for further treatment.

Dr Asim along with others is facing a multi-billion corruption reference for allegedly misusing his authority for getting plots allotted fraudulently, encroaching upon state land for expansion of Dr Ziauddin Hospital/Trust, kickbacks, money laundering, commission through fertiliser cartel for illegal curtailment of gas for exploitative price hike and fraud with public in the name of charity hospital.

When the reference came up for hearing before an accountability court on Thursday, a member of a medical board, constituted on a court order to examine Dr Asim after he complained of neurological and psychological ailments, informed the court that a nine-member medical broad in its latest meeting examined him on Aug 2.

He said that according to the report, Dr Asim’s mental health had improved but fear of certain situations and Rangers uniform still persisted, adding that his lower back pain also limited his movement.

The board in its report said that physiotherapy was not helpful for Dr Asim and besides continuing it, it also recommended hydrotherapy and said that Dr Asim should remain in hospital for such purpose.

The court summoned the head of the medical board, Dr Haroon Ahmed, to appear before it on Aug 16.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2016