KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Dr Asim Hussain on Friday denied reports that he was quitting his party.
In his video message before leaving for London via Dubai for his treatment Dr Asim expressed his full confidence in the leadership of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. “I believe in the unity and strength of Pakistan. However, once again, I deny all rumors of quitting PPP and joining any other party,” Dr Asim said.
“I am in the PPP and will stay loyal to the party and my chairman. I am leaving for my treatment abroad and InshaAllah after returning, I will start playing an active role in politics,” he added.
Dr Asim left Jinnah International Airport Karachi for London via Dubai for treatment after removal of his name from government’s ECL list. Dr Asim’s family members saw him off at the airport.
Separately, the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday issued a contempt of court notice to the Interior secretary for failing to remove the name of Dr Asim Hussain from Exit Control List (ECL) despite the court’s orders.
A two-member SC bench, comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa, after hearing the arguments of Sardar Latif Khosa, senior counsel for Dr Asim Hussain, also directed the Interior secretary to file his reply until November 29.
Latif Khosa submitted that despite two orders of the apex court, the name of his client had not been removed from the ECL, which warranted initiation of contempt of court proceedings against the Interior Ministry. He pleaded the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the interior ministry for not implementing the court’s orders.
During the hearing, Justice Mushir Alam noted that he had read in a newspaper that the name of Dr Asim had been removed from the ECL.
Published in Daily Times, November 25th 2017.