SHC calls comments on Asim’s transfer of attorney plea

The Sindh High Court directed the additional attorney general on Friday to file comments on a petition of former federal petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain seeking permission to transfer the power of attorney to his son.

The ailing Hussain, who is a close associate of former president and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, said he wanted to give his power of attorney to his son, Ammad Hussain, who is a Canadian national, in respect of Ziauddin Hospital and his bank accounts in Dubai. 

His counsel said Hussain executed the power of attorney in favour of his son in the presence of the competent authority, which was also acceded to by an accountability court hearing a corruption case against him. 

However, the counsel said, officials at the foreign affairs ministry’s office refused to attest the transfer of power of attorney. The court directed the federal law officer to file comments by November 3.

Also on Friday, the SHC adjourned for November 1 the hearing of bail pleas of Hussain and co-accused standing trial over charges of harbouring alleged terrorists and paying up their medical treatment bills. The co-accused are Karachi Mayor Waseem Akhtar, Pak Sarzameen Party leader Anis Qaimkhani, MQM leader Abdul Rauf Siddiqui, Pasban leader Usman Moazam and PPP leader Qadir Patel.