KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Karachi Division president Dr Asim Hussain, a close confidant of former president and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, left on Sunday for London via Dubai for medical treatment. He was accompanied by his mother Dr Aejaz Fatimah.

Dr Hussain, who is facing cases of corruption and providing treatment to terrorists, was recently released on bail and his name was removed from the Exit Control List to enable him to proceed to London for treatment after he furnished surety in cash.

Talking to journalists at the Jinnah International Airport, Dr Hussain said he would return home by Oct 17. “I am going to London for treatment. Pakistan is my home and as soon as I recover from my ailment, I will be back.”

He was seen off at the airport by PPP leaders and family members.

An Anti-Terrorism Court had allowed on Saturday Dr Hussain to leave Pakistan for two weeks to get medical treatment there after he submitted Rs2 million as surety money, but ordered him to return to the country within two weeks.

Dr Hussain faces corruption references filed by NAB pertaining to land fraud amounting to Rs9.5 billion, money laundering amounting to Rs3bn, misuse of authority, and criminal breach of trust through a Rs450bn fertiliser scam.

NAB also accused him of illegally awarding gas contracts to a privately-managed company, the Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL). The contract, which was awarded without an open auction, allowed the private company to process gas from government-owned gas fields, which resulted in a loss of Rs17.338bn to the national exchequer.

On Nov 1 last year, the Sindh High Court had granted bail to Dr Hussain pertaining to charges of harbouring terrorists and providing them with medical treatment.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2017