Dr Asim re-appointed as Sindh HEC Chairman

KARACHI: Embroiled in corruption charges and probe in its wake, the Sindh government has re-appointed former federal minister and senior Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Dr Asim Hussain as chairperson of the provincial Higher Education Commission.

A notification to this effect was issued by the Sindh chief secretary couple of days ago.

 

The notification reads: “In continuation of this department’s notification of even number dated 28.1.2014 & in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 5 (1) of the Sindh Higher Education Commission Act-2013, the Chief Minister Sindh/ Controlling Authority has been pleased to re-appoint Dr Asim as Chairperson, Sindh Higher Education Commission for one more similar term.” In this capacity, Dr Asim enjoys the status of a provincial minister. It is in the same capacity, he was taken into custody by Sindh Rangers in August, 2015.

On November 23 last year, the Interior Ministry had removed the name of Dr Asim from the Exit Control List for one month.

Dr Asim had submitted an application in the Supreme Court calling for his name to be struck from the list. Following the court orders, the interior ministry removed his name for a month.

SC had taken up the application filed by Dr Asim stating that he has the right to travel abroad for health reasons and his name should be removed from the ECL.

Dr Asim faced several corruption charges including misusing his authority for getting plots allotted fraudulently and encroaching upon state land for expansion of Dr Ziauddin Hospital/Trust.

The National Accountability Bureau had said that the former petroleum minister had allegedly taken kickbacks, illegal gains, received commission through fertiliser cartel for illegal curtailment of gas for exploitative price and defrauding people in the name of charity hospital.

The NAB had alleged that he had deprived public exchequer of Rs 462 billion.