Dr Asim receives medical treatment in London

LONDON: Doctors have told Dr Asim Hussain that he will be advised about his “fitness for surgery” after detailed examination of his blood tests and scans including medical reports of the past year.

The former federal minister and close aide of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari arrived in London two days ago, after the Supreme Court of Pakistan allowed him to travel abroad on medical grounds.

SC allows Dr Asim to travel abroad, orders name off ECL

Asim was placed on the Exit Control List in November 2015. He subsequently petitioned the courts to be allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment

Dr Asim, who is staying at his son’s central London flat, visited Wellington Hospital on Wednesday where he was examined in detail by leading neurological surgeon Dr James Alibone.

“I visited Wellington Hospital for my disc surgery and to inform the doctors about the acute complications I have faced which have impacted my health generally, especially while I was in detention,” Dr Asim told this correspondent in a conversation. “Dr James Alibone will be assessing my reports and will be giving his opinion in few weeks.”

Dr Asim confirmed that he has consulted Prof DiMario, a cardiologist at Royal Brompton Hospital, and was advised seven days Holter monitoring of the heart for his cardiac arrhythmia after which he will be assessed for fitness for surgery.

“I will return to Pakistan as soon as doctors allow me to do so,” Dr Asim said, adding that he taking his health issues very seriously and that’s the main purpose of his journey to London.

I will be back, says Dr Asim before leaving for London

Former petroleum minister, out on bail in two cases of corruption and one of terrorists' support, was recently allowed by the Supreme Court to travel abroad for treatment

Dr Asim reached London on the weekend after his legal counsel succeeded in getting his name struck off from the Exit Control List (ECL).

The former federal minister is out on bail in two cases of corruption and one of facilitating terrorists. 

He has maintained that the cases against him are baseless and “politically motivated.” Dr Asim insists that there is no evidence against him and so far the prosecution has failed to come up with anything substantial to prove the allegations. 

 The Supreme Court ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and the Federal Investigation Agency on August 29 to remove Dr Asim's name from the ECL, overturning an earlier Sindh High Court ruling.

Dr Asim was allowed to leave for abroad for one month for medical treatment after submitting a surety of Rs6 million.

Asim was placed on the ECL in November 2015. He subsequently petitioned the courts to have his name removed.