Case transferred to anti-terrorism trial court: ATC rejects investigation report by police

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday rejected police investigation report in former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain's case and ordered that the suspect be presented before Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC-II trial court) for further proceedings. Dr Asim Hussain, who was in NAB custody, has now been handed over to police. The court ordered police to produce him before ATC-II on December 22, 2015.
On December 11, police investigation officers informed the court that police had released Dr Hussain as it had found "no terror-related evidence" against him under Section 497 (II) CrPC. Upon which, the court had ordered the IO DSP Altaf Hussain to submit a final report under section 497 (2) with regard the results of his investigation.
On the presence of Dr Asim before the ATC, police argued that there is no witness or testament of his involvement in terror-related activities. The police report was also presented in court by investigation officer (IO), seeking the release of Dr Asim Hussain.
The police investigation officer informed the court that, "Sufficient incriminating material is lacking in the case". However, Rangers prosecutor had contended that enough evidence existed against Dr Asim in a JIT report to implicate him. According to the court order, "Accused Dr Asim Hussain is produced in the court by NAB; he is taken into in this case bearing Crime No 197/2015, registered at PS North Nazimabad under sections 201, 202, 216, 216 (A), 409, 34, PPC read with sections 6(7)A-21(I)-21(J) of Anti-terrorism AAct, 1997 is transferred to learned judge, ATC-II for disposal according to law".
The court also mentioned in its orders that there is sufficient incriminating evidences/material against Dr Asim and other accused to connect in the case. Justice Naimatullah Phulpoto also incorporated the findings of JIT report, saying "The accused has disclosed the involvement in harbouring/facilitating the target killers/militants of MQM-A and other banned outfits through providing medical facilities in his Ziauddin Hospital syetem which need further probe".
Earlier in November, a case was registered against Hussain in North Nazimabad Police Station as a 90-day remand had expired. The three-month remand was acquired by the Rangers after he was arrested at the Sindh Higher Education Commission (HEC) office. Following the end of his 90-day preventive detention with Rangers, police sought multiple extensions in his remand for further questioning and collection of evidence in a case relating to treatment of, and sheltering, terrorists.