Dr Asim hospitalised in London for surgery

London: Former petroleum minister and President PPP Karachi Division Dr Asim Hussain has been admitted to Harley Street Clinic for a spinal surgery. 

Hospital sources have informed that he would be operated upon during early 

Doctors had recommended ‘artificial spinal disc replacement’ for Asim since he has been suffering from a back ailment.

Medical reports had recommended that Asim undergo disc replacement surgery in London as the treatment was not possible in Pakistan. 

Earlier in September, Hussain left for London and said Pakistan is his home and he will return shortly.

The PPP leader, who is out on bail in two cases of corruption and one of terrorists' facilitation, managed to get his name struck off the Exit Control List (ECL). 

On August 29, the Supreme Court ordered the relevant authorities to remove Dr Asim's name from the ECL, overturning an earlier Sindh High Court ruling. His name was placed on the ECL in November 2015.

Asim has been allowed to leave for abroad for one month for medical treatment and had to submit a surety bond of Rs6 million.

Dr Asim faces trial in two cases of alleged corruption of over Rs450 billion and another of allegedly facilitating and treating terrorists at his medical facility — Dr Ziauddin Hospital.

He was released from the sub-jail at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi on March 31 this year after obtaining bail in all the cases lodged against him.

He was initially arrested by the Rangers in August 2015 and then transferred into police custody.