KARACHI: In what appeared to be a rejection of Pakistan Rangers’ allegations against former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain, police said on Thursday it had found “no terror-related evidence” against the senior PPP leader and aide to its co-chairman, Asif Ali Zardari.

According to officials, the development may lead to Dr Hussain’s release on bail more than three months after his arrest.

The disclosure by the Karachi police authorities came three days after the former minister told the administrative judge of anti-terrorism courts that he was being tortured to make a bogus confession. He denied all allegations against him.

Also read: SHC seeks reply from MQM's Waseem Akhtar in Rs500m Rangers libel case

Following the end of his 90-day preventive detention on Nov 25, the Rangers had handed over Dr Hussain to police after lodging a case against him for allegedly treating and harbouring terrorists at the North Nazima­bad and Clifton branches of his hospital at the behest of leaders of the MQM and the PPP.

“We have completed our investigation,” SSP (investigation) Arab Maher told Dawn. “The IO [investigation officer] has sent me a report which says that the police have not found any evidence so far in support of terror-related charges levelled against Dr Asim Hussain. So we are dropping those charges from the FIR.”

Asked about the fate of Dr Hussain after the charges of terrorism were dropped, the official said he could be released on bail under Section 497-B of the Criminal Procedure Code because no cognisable offence was left to keep him in custody.

The arrest of Dr Hussain, Chairman of the Sindh Higher Education Commission, came on Aug 26 and was described as the first major action against PPP leaders during the ongoing Karachi operation.

Following the end of his preventive detention by Rangers, police sought multiple extensions in his remand for further questioning and collection of evidence in a case relating to treatment of, and sheltering, terrorists. His police remand is due to end on Saturday.

Sources privy to the prosecution process against Dr Hussain, however, said that he could be taken into custody by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after his bail.

“NAB has already launched investigations into references against Dr Hussain for illegal affiliation of colleges with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, issuance of licence for dozens of CNG stations and other corrupt practices,” the sources said.

“NAB has already been authorised by the competent authority to arrest Dr Hussain.”

Published in Dawn, December 11th, 2015