KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Karachi has remanded former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain in Rangers custody for ninety days under Section 11-EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. The ex-minister was presented in ATC s courtroom number III on Thursday.
Dr Hussain Hussain, the incumbent chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in Sindh and close confidante of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Zardari, was detained on Wednesday in connection with his alleged involvement in terrorism related activities, assisting the criminals and embezzlement of funds.
Asim had served as the petroleum minister during the PPP tenure in 2008. His arrest came in what has been described as the first major crackdown against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership during the ongoing targeted Karachi operation.
Earlier todyay, an anti-corruption case issued arrest warrants for former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and former federal minister Makhdoom Amin Faheem. Both PPP leaders are accused of involvement in corruption worth millionsof rupees during their tenure.