Militants' treatment case: Ex-president Zardari's close aide Asim denied bail

An anti-terrorism court has dismissed the bail plea of former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain, who was a close aide of former Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari.

The court, which yesterday heard a case relating to the treatment of alleged terrorists at his hospital, turned down the bail application of the former minister, who held the portfolio of petroleum and natural resources.

Asim has been booked on the Rangers complaint for allegedly treating and harbouring suspected terrorists, militants and gangsters at the North Nazimabad and Clifton branches of his hospital at the behest of some Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Pakistan People's Party leaders, reports Dawn.

MQM's mayoral nominee Waseem Akhtar, MPA Rauf Siddiqui, PPP's Abdul Qadir Patel and PakSarzameen Party's Anis Kaimkhani and Usman Moazam have also been named in the FIR against Asim.

According to the prosecution, the five suspects of four different parties had allegedly asked Dr Asim to provide medical treatment to "political militants", Lyari gangsters as well as activists of the banned militant outfits after they sustained wounds in shootouts with the police and Rangers.