63
PPP leader Dr Asim Hussain was released from prison after 19 months on Friday after the Sindh High Court issued a release order for the former minister.
The release order was issued after Dr Asim submitted his Pakistani and Canadian passports before the court ─ the final condition pending his release.
Armoured vehicles transported Dr Asim from Jinnah Hospital to Ziauddin Hospital where he is the deputy managing director. The former minister has been undergoing treatment for cardiovascular ailment.
A day earlier, the Sindh High Court had rejected an application filed by the PPP leader seeking exemption from the court's decision asking him to submit his Pakistani and Canadian passports before Justice Aftab Ahmed Gorar, the referee judge.
Earlier this week, an anti-terrorism court had also issued a release order for Dr Asim in a case relating to the alleged treatment of terrorists at his hospital.
Dr Asim was booked on the complaint of Rangers for allegedly treating and harbouring suspected terrorists, militants and gangsters at the North Nazimabad and Clifton branches of his hospital at the behest of some MQM and PPP leaders.
The former minister was also indicted by an accountability court on May 6, 2016, after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed a reference against Dr Hussain and others for the alleged corruption of over Rs460 billion.
NAB's reference claimed that along with his accomplices, the Chairman of the Ziauddin Group of Hospitals had misused his authority for getting plots allotted fraudulently and encroaching upon state land for expansion of Dr Ziauddin Hospital, money laundering and receiving commission through the fertiliser cartel for the illegal curtailment of gas supply for exploitative price hike.
The former federal minister has been behind bars since 2015 after he was charged with allegedly treating and harbouring suspected terrorists, “political” militants and gangsters at the North Nazimabad and Clifton branches of his hospital at the behest of some politicians.
These politicians include Karachi mayor Waseem Akhtar, Pak Sarzameen Party president Anis Kaimkhani, Muttahida Qaumi Movement lawmaker Rauf Siddiqui, PPP leader Abdul Qadir Patel and Pasban leader Usman Moazzam.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (63) Closed
Mar 31, 2017 01:35pm
Oh yeah,. the surrendered passports and ECL and piddly bail amount is going to prevent someone with Billions at his disposal from leaving the country!
He probably will be in Dubai by tomorrow.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 01:36pm
In the land of free...you loot...you plunder...allowed to do Muk Mukah...you are set free to sail abroad! What a pity! What a pity! What a pity!
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 01:43pm
Heavyweight Zardari......
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 01:54pm
It's all political gameshow ....Scan any one trust these political parties
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 02:01pm
Alls wellthat ends well. He is now a hero and his corruption allegations will now be considered politically motivated and life moves on. Just another day in our country.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 02:16pm
Only Mohajir and MQM are being targeted ...
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 02:21pm
sad state of affairs really :(
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 02:22pm
Welcome to the club.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 02:34pm
Part of the deal between PPP and PMLn , next election games
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 02:34pm
Muk muka, shame on both PLMN & PPP, they must think we are totally stupid.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 02:40pm
another culprit released, part of the ppp under arrest chain. Was he really sick in JPMC or merely eye wash?????Like Musharaf, will be walking free with no medical ailment.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 02:51pm
Pakistani and Canadian passport... They are here to rule us while building up their fortune outside Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 02:51pm
i have seen Mr. Asim visiting Ziauddin Hospital Cliffton on number of occasions through Aug 2016 - March 4. He moves with a fleet of security guards and a 7 series BMW.
When was he in jail?
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 03:00pm
If this was the drama then why that big charge sheet ?
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 03:07pm
so here you go!!!,
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 03:08pm
If you have money and political influence, you can do everything with a little or no punishment in this country. Can you imagine what kinds of charges had been leveled against Asim & MQM leaders???? And Now released ?????
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 03:13pm
What next please? All PPP stalwarts released now! Sharjeel Memon, Kazmi and now Dr. Asim. I think, their most demands met by their partners in democracy.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 03:17pm
If he can be released, then release every criminal in jail today !
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 03:22pm
Good bargain for panamagate support.
Sorry IK, you were right " Main to 5 saal bardasht karlumga, tumlog nahi karpaogay"
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 03:23pm
Prove Once again that Law is only for Poor here ..
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 04:03pm
Corruption and muk maka zindabad!!
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 04:25pm
so this operation is only for Sindh and specially for Karachi. rest are clean and respectable people.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 04:36pm
EXPECTED!!!
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 04:44pm
This is worst example of Muk Mukka ....
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 04:53pm
Adeal of muk muka .no law no rule no punishment.this is our lovely Pakistan.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 05:17pm
@HAH
Agree with you
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 05:20pm
Release of a Corrupt, This is called in Pakistan by its politicians as " Jamhooriyat ki Fatah "
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 05:23pm
Disgusting.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 05:28pm
No word to say. We live in a hopeless country
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 05:33pm
Corruption has been regularize in the country.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 06:09pm
This was expected. The drama took a longtime to come to conclusion
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 06:24pm
King of corruption, nepotism and poor people money embezzler is out tells us that there is no justice on this land called pakistan.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 06:33pm
Looking forward Dr Asim may henceforth began political activities in Karachi as PPP stalwart heading Karachiites. He has a open level playing field in Karachi politics,due to divisions in ex linguistic party. He will make ways and inroads in conducive and vacuum in Karachi politics,and certainly in next election he will get more MNAs and MPAs for PPP. He can genuinely serve Karachi and can uplift the standard of civic & social welfare, or continue feudal arrogance attitude towards Karachiies is yet to be seen.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 06:41pm
@Muhammed Ali UK , actually they're both convinced that we are down right stupid, gullible and ignorant this has been proved time and again by electing these plunderers.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 06:42pm
Hence confirmed Laws and Regulations are only for the poor and one particular most loved political party of Urban Sindh. While rest and the powerful are above the law.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 06:58pm
He was made scapegoat. After 19 months in prison, rangers,nab could not bring single evidence against him..
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 07:09pm
These corrupt people will fade away after a while.. I hope people posting depressed and negative comments here fight corruption in their surrounding community .. Only through cohesive effort we can root these people out !
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 07:20pm
@Princess "Release of a Corrupt, This is called in Pakistan by its politicians as " Jamhooriyat ki Fatah ". Check the name of the one leading the country.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 07:24pm
I totally differ with all those 36 who have commented so far, if not annoying. To me Dr has lost his face for the rest of his life to be honest simply because he has been behind the bars irrespective of the place (police station or jail) and irrespective of the time (hours or days or weeks or months etc). Now when he is free he will be seen by public at all places be his bungalow lawn or street or restaurant or club or shopping mall or airport or aircraft and he being seen will be discussed and those who did not know about it will know of it so is not continual disgrace for him? Regretfully some of us, if not most of us, do not feel insulted at all if caught on corruption and very much surprisingly when such person comes out of jail then his relatives and friends garland him
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 07:31pm
I don't like IK but once again he is proved right. He was right on Panama and now this, I feel let down by NS because I voted for him to develop not to steal.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 07:35pm
Congratulations to the impoverished nation. All big criminals are set free, and the nation does not have the will and the courage to rise against these leaders.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 07:44pm
The systems fails yet again.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 07:47pm
Pakistan has only one hope to get rid of these criminals and its IK!
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 07:48pm
Now sue the officials behind his arrest and confinement. If they had no proof against him, then they should be held responsible for all the misery dr asim went through
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 07:48pm
Cases based on political vendetta are going down the drain.
Truth will prevail.
UK is right in not believing are evidence.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 08:14pm
We are committed corrupt criminal people
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 08:15pm
@Muhammed Ali UK
We are committed corrupt criminal people
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 08:56pm
There's a bright future being a high profile criminal if that person is affiliated with PPP and PML-N party, they are above the reach of laws.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 09:11pm
Why arrest people like Dr Asim and let extremists go off freely.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 09:16pm
Wow justice at its peak. One can steal billions yet released. Do we have reasons why and how but any chance a person can be released. Imagine if all the taken money is invested on Pakistan for infrastructure, education and health.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 09:28pm
Ver sad that he was imprisoned for 19 months. His fault is that he speaks the wrong language otherwise more corrupt people than him have been the presidents of pakistan.
Recommend
0
Mar 31, 2017 09:31pm
Imran Khan was right to say that Nawaz and Zardari made a secrete deal and the results are coming out clearly, this country is never going to be clear from corruption and terrorism unless we create true and honest leaders. This is our bad luck that Nawaz and Zardari are our leaders.
Recommend
0
Apr 01, 2017 12:31am
Hopeless!
Recommend
0
Apr 01, 2017 01:17am
General Raheel Sharif is now retired , I think this is the main reason, Zardari and Sharif deal is in progress.
Recommend
0
Apr 01, 2017 01:18am
If Musharraf and Haqqani were let go why not this comparative small fry
Recommend
0
Apr 01, 2017 02:20am
Strange -- Dr was just a front face -- king is still on the loose ! 460 bn or else cannot be digested by only one individuals
"Smoke always signifies fire"
So once again threat rules no judges or prosecutors stand on
Lets hand over the subject to China as well -- justice will be delivered as expected
Recommend
0
Apr 01, 2017 02:25am
Some kind of give and take deal is going on behind the scene between the government, political parties and other institution. In this situation white could be declared black and vice versa. General public should enjoy talk shows on their TV and should not bother to think who or why or when.
Recommend
0
Apr 01, 2017 02:31am
@Nasir s. Well said. Dr. Asim released and called 'Hero'. Same for Sherjeel memon, I guess you can call him 'Hero' too. all those who run away to Dubai, than come back, yes, they qualify to be called 'Hero' as well. That happens only in Pakistans, very intelligent people.
Recommend
0
Apr 01, 2017 07:34am
@ZAIDI / Iqbal HADI He won't be seen in Pakistan very soon.
Recommend
0
Apr 01, 2017 08:44am
you cannot expect the law to prevail when money and corruption rules the law itself, so this smoke screen of surrender your passports don't mean anything but how rampant the corruption is in our system.
Recommend
0
Apr 01, 2017 09:19am
lets see if his health has improved much coz he spent most of his 19 months in a hospital (read 5 star).
Recommend
0
Apr 01, 2017 04:41pm
What a mockery of laws and justice !
Recommend
0
Apr 01, 2017 04:42pm
JIT consists of people from rangers , police and agaencies and even then they have no case against him ? Definitely a deal is struck between the parties !
Recommend
0
