SHC judge recuses himself from hearing Dr Asim’s bail plea

Karachi

The Sindh High Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of bail applications of former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain and co-accused in corruption references after a judge recused himself from being a member on the bench conducting the trial.

The bail applications of Hussain and co-accused, including former officials of Sui Southern Gas Company and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, were fixed before the court for hearing in corruption cases pertaining to land fraud, money laundering, misuse of authority and criminal breach of trust through a fertiliser scam. 

A division bench, headed by Justice Abdul Rasool Memon, directed the office to not fix the case before the bench on which he was a member.

The court also adjourned the hearing of bail applications filed by Pak Sarzameen Party leader Anis Qaimkhani, Muttahida Quami Movement leader Abdul Rauf Siddiqui, Pasban leader Usman Moazam in a case pertaining to harbouring terrorists and footing the bill for their medical treatment.

According to the prosecution, Hussain, a former federal minister and close aide of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, had provided medical treatment to terrorists of a banned outfit, the MQM and Lyari gangs as well as shelter to them in his private hospital. 

The FIR registered by the Rangers alleged that Hussain provided medical treatment and shelter to terrorists on instructions from MQM leaders Abdul Rauf Siddiqui, Waseem Akhtar, Anees Qaimkhani amd Saleem Shahzad and PPP leader Qadir Patel.