KARACHI: The antiterrorism court trying Dr Asim Hussain, leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party and close aide to former president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, in terrorists’ treatment case on Saturday allowed him to leave the country for medical treatment.

Dr Asim through his lawyer had moved an application in the court seeking permission to go to the UAE or London for follow-up medical treatment from Aug 8 to 28.

He was arrested by the Rangers in August 2015 and was detained for 90 days for his alleged role in terrorism related offences.

Subsequently, Dr Asim was handed over to police in November 2015 after registration of an FIR on Rangers’ complaint.

The close aide to former president Asif Ali Zaradri was booked on Rangers complaint for allegedly providing medical facilities to the militants belonging to Muttahida Qaumi Movement and other banned outfits at both branches of his Ziauddin Hospital.

According to the FIR, MQM leader now Karachi mayor Wasim Akhtar, lawmaker Rauf Siddiqui, Saleem Shehzad, Pak Sarzameen Party president Anis Kaimkhani, PPP’s Abdul Qadir Patel, and Pasban Pakistan’s Usman Moazzam asked him to do so.

Dr Asim was released from jail in April last year after he obtained bail in all cases against him.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2018