Daily Times

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and former minister Dr Asim Hussain Monday told an anti-terrorism court that he had been mentally tortured in the custody of the security forces and that he feared for his life.

During the court proceedings, Dr Asim was asked by the presiding judge if he had a statement to make as he was present in an ‘open court and was safe in the premises’. The PPP leader stated that he was fearful for his life and that he was not aware where he was kept while in custody of security forces.

“I went with the Rangers voluntarily when they arrived to take me into custody,” he said. He added that he was being subjected to mental torture while in the custody of security forces, which was detrimental to his health as he suffered from multiple health issues.

“I was made to sign documents that I was not aware of while in the custody,” the PPP leader alleged.

“I deny all charges levelled against me. I was threatened … they want to kill me. If I die, the system will be responsible,” said an emotional Asim during his court appearance. “I can’t stay silent anymore as my life is endangered,” he said.

“During my detention, I was taken to my own hospital handcuffed,” he said, adding, “I have been falsely implicated in the case. The FIR has been made up just to harass me.”

“The cases against me for treating terrorists in my medical facilities are false and baseless.”

The former minister also voiced concerns for his life. “When I was under detention, some unidentified persons came and asked my captors that I should be handed over to them and then I will start speaking like a parrot.”

The close confidante of former president Asif Ali Zardari upheld, “There are malafide intentions behind my arrest.”

After hearing Dr Asim’s statement, the judge extended his remand by five more days and sent him back into police custody.

Investigation Officer (IO) Altaf Hussain had asked the court to extend Dr Asim’s remand for five more days in order to complete the ongoing probe.

Following the end of his 90-day preventive detention on November 25, Rangers had handed Dr Asim over to police after lodging a case against him for allegedly treating and harbouring terrorists at North Nazimabad and Clifton branches of his hospital at the behest of MQM and PPP leaders.

Last week, Ziauddin Hospital’s Deputy Managing Director Dr Yousuf Sattar confessed ‘political militants’ were given refuge at the hospital on Dr Asim’s orders. “Some political militants were also given a hideout in the hospital,” the deputy managing director said before a central district judicial magistrate in Karachi.

Dr Sattar alleged that on instructions of Dr Asim, several ‘political militants’ were treated at discounted rates.

“Some MQM leaders used to call me to force me into providing medical assistance to terrorists injured in clashes with rivals and law enforcers,” he added.

Dr Asim, who had served as federal petroleum minister during the previous PPP government, was taken into custody on August 26 and later an ATC handed him over to the paramilitary Rangers on a 90-day preventive custody. Following the expiration of his preventive custody last week, an FIR No 197/15 was registered against him at North Nazimabad police station on behalf of a Rangers officer, Inayatullah.

Dr Asim has been accused of providing medical treatment to MQM workers and Lyari gangsters wounded in encounters with police and Rangers.