ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Ministry of Interior and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Dr Asim Hussain in two separate petitions. Dr Asim has filed a petition in the top court, requesting it to direct the federal government to remove his name for the Exit Control List (ECL). The second petition has been filed by NAB, challenging the Sindh High Court (SHC) order for granting bail to Dr Asim Hussain. A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal, took up the matters for hearing and issued notices to the parties. Sardar Latif Khan Khosa, counsel for Hussain, argued before the bench that his client wanted to visit UK for medical checkup in the second week of July as the case related to the liberty and health of the petitioner. He further contended that his client was suffering from chronic diseases which may cost him dearly if he was not allowed to undergo medical treatment abroad. Justice Khan observed that he was surprised that the country’s rich people were able to obtain medical certificates in which medical boards recommended that treatment of the patient was not possible in Pakistan. Justice Dost Muhammad Khan, a member of the bench, observed that in 1980 a patient of epilepsy was granted bail by the court. “Since then, accused have started producing epilepsy certificates for obtaining bail,” he said. During the course of hearing, NAB’s counsel argued that Hussain was not suffering from a life-threatening disease and was undergoing the adequate treatment at a local hospital. He further stated that the bail order had been issued contrary to facts and the law as the suspect was not entitled to any concession of bail on the basis of the medical records he had produced. After hearing preliminary arguments, the bench issued notice to the litigants and adjourned the case till next week. Published in Daily Times, July 7th , 2017.