Dr Asim's name will be removed from ECL, assures Interior Ministry

Dr Asim Hussain in custody of Rangers. Photo: File ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court allowed on Monday Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Dr Asim Hussain to go abroad after ordering the removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL). However, the court stated that Dr Asim has to take permission from the trial court before he leaves the country. During today's hearing, Dr Asim's counsel, Latif Khosa, informed the two-member bench headed by Justice Mushir Alam that his client's name was not taken off the ECL despite earlier orders of the apex court. Justice Qazi Faez Isa observed that the petitioner should not flee the country on the pretext of medical treatment. On November 16, the same bench had directed the government to strike off Dr Asim's name from the ECL so he could travel abroad for medical treatment. Dr Asim ECL case: SC issues contempt of court notice to interior secretary Dr Hussain's counsel Lateef Khosa informed the two-member SC bench that his client's name was not taken off from the ECL until Thursday Failure by the government to do so led Dr Asim to file a contempt petition against the Interior Ministry before the same bench. On Friday, the bench had issued a contempt notice to the interior secretary for failing to strike off Dr Asim's name. Dr Asim's detention Dr Asim, a close aide of former president and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, was detained by the Rangers in August 2015, while he was heading the provincial higher education department. He was later transferred to the custody of the civilian law enforcement agencies. Still on ECL: Dr Asim seeks contempt proceedings against Interior Ministry Supreme Court on Nov 16 had ordered removal of Dr Asim Hussain's name from Exit Control List He faces two corruption references filed by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He is also alleged to have provided treatment and protection to terrorists at the Ziauddin Hospital, owned by him. His name was first added to the ECL on the NAB's request on November 24, 2015. On March 31 this year, after 19 months in custody, Dr Asim was released when he secured bail in all three cases against him. Following his release, he was shifted from the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Complex to the Ziauddin Hospital. The Sindh High Court, on March 29, approved the former minister's bail request after he furnished his passports that were being held by the Anti-Terrorism Court in connection.