ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday proposed constitution of an independent medical board that may comprise doctors from all the provinces to determine what ailment afflicts PPP leader Dr Asim Hussain, who is facing a number of corruption references.

“It has become necessary to ascertain whether Dr Hussain is suffering from any disease and, if yes, what the illness is since one medical report suggests urgent physiotherapy, another prescribes immediate psychotherapy and yet another finds the patient is suffering from heart ailment,” observed Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, who is heading a three-judge bench.

The court had taken up an application of Dr Hussain seeking removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL) and return of his passport to enable him to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment.

Notes 10 boards have mentioned different diseases afflicting PPP leader

The court said that at least 10 medical boards had been constituted to examine Dr Hussain, which was unprecedented, but none had recommended surgery.

Senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa, who was representing Dr Hussain, opposed the suggestion to constitute an independent medical board, saying that the court should not set a precedent that might become dangerous in future.

Special Prosecutor of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Nasir Moghal argued that the accused was allegedly complaining about different diseases only to prevent him from getting indicted by the accountability courts in different corruption references.

Whosoever in the country went abroad, never came back, he said, adding that one accused left the country for the treatment of his severe back pain but was later seen dancing.

The prosecutor said that Dr Hussain used to come to the courts in a wheelchair from jail but started attending political rallies after he was granted bail.

Mr Khosa said that NAB was reluctant to take action against those who were found dancing in foreign lands.

The court said that diseases like blood pressure, depression and diabetes were common in Pakistan but none got the preferential treatment the petitioner was getting and, as a result, many inmates had lost their lives in jail. It said that all medical boards had always recommended treatment abroad for big shots and influential people.

In his petition, Dr Hussain has cited medical urgency as he is fighting a number of health conditions and undergoing treatment for a cardiovascular disease.

In addition to the petition, Dr Hussain has also filed an application, saying that he wants to go to the UK in the second week of July for a medical check-up, therefore his petition for removal of his name from the ECL should be heard and decided as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, the court once again issued a notice to Dr Hussain on NAB’s appeal challenging the March 22 Sindh High Court order to grant him bail in two corruption references. The apex court will resume hearing of the case on July 20.

In its appeal, NAB has requested the court to cancel the bail granted to Dr Hussain on medical grounds in the larger interest of justice.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2017