Daily Times

KARACHI: President of PPP’s Karachi chapter and a close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari, Dr Asim Hussain Sunday left Karachi for London for his medical treatment following the permission granted to him by the Supreme Court. Dr Asim, who is facing corruption charges besides allegations of providing medical treatment to alleged terrorists and providing them shelter at his hospital, was allowed to leave country after removal of his name from the exit control list (ECL) following orders by the apex court on Aug 29.

While talking to media prior to leaving for London at the airport, Dr Asim said he was going abroad for his medical treatment and that he will come back very soon. Amir Shahzad, spokesman of Dr Asim, said that a no objection certificate (NOC) was issued to the PPP leader on Saturday for traveling abroad. Dr Ejaz Fatima, mother of Dr Asim, accompanied him to the airport but she is not traveling with him, the spokesman said, adding Dr Asim would return within a month. Dr Asim flew to Dubai onboard flight EK601 which left Karachi airport at 12:15 pm on Sunday from where he would take next flight to London. Dr Asim was taken into custody by Rangers on August 26, 2015, from Clifton for questioning about his alleged involvement in terror financing and misappropriation of funds for supporting terrorism and criminal activities. Dr Asim is also facing corruption references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for allegedly causing massive losses to the national exchequer through corruption.

Published in Daily Times, September 11^th 2017.