ISLAMABAD: An accountability court on Monday adjourned the corruption cases against Dr Asim Hussain till 5 March.
During the hearing, the counsel for the accused informed the court that despite court orders surgery was not being done on the backbone of Hussain. He said that Hussain’s surgery should be done as per directions of the medical board.
The court asked the investigation officer to submit the medical board’s report.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutor said it was the duty of the jail administration to implement the court order. It has been said in the inquiry report presented to court by the NAB that Hussain caused a Rs450 billion loss to the national exchequer. He has been linked to illegal allotment of land, money laundering, corruption and kickbacks.
The court asked the NAB to explain its failure to file a reference against Hussain despite the fact that he was arrested several days ago. In response, the NAB investigation officer told the court that he had time till February 29 to file the reference. He sought three days to file the supplementary reference.
The counsel for the accused said there was no justification for Hussain’s arrest if the reference has not been filed yet. He said that Hussain was taken into custody just for investigation. According to the NAB, he said, the investigation into the allegations against Hussain had been completed.
The court, however, sent Hussain to jail on physical remand. Earlier, NAB officials brought Hussain to the court amid tight security. The mother and sister of Hussain were also present in the court. Anwar Mansoor Khan, the counsel for Hussain, told the media later that the NAB was being used for political purposes. He said that personnel of the law enforcement agencies had picked up Hussain’s personal assistant and they were harassing him. He said that Hussain’s personal assistant was being pressurised to testify against him.
