Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to Ministry of Interior and National Accountable Bureau (NAB) in response to an appeal of Dr Asim Hussain, former advisor to prime minister for ministry of oil and natural resources, seeking removal of his name from Exit Control List (ECL). Sindh High Court had turned down Dr Asim Hussain's plea in the matter. He subsequently, challenged the High Court verdict before the apex court for a remedy on medical grounds.
Sardar Latif Khosa appeared before a three-member bench led by the Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan and contended that a medical board has already prescribed treatment of his client abroad whereas NAB officials are in picture about board's recommendation. Khosa requested the bench to issue directives to the concerned authorities to remove his client's name from the ECL as Dr Asim is needed to undergo a surgery abroad for which three appointments have already been canceled whereas the next or fourth appointment with the concerned surgeon for the purpose is scheduled for July 17.
During the course of proceedings, Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan questioned whether most of the Pakistanis go abroad for medical treatment. Justice Dost Muhammad remarked that a large number of appeals filed in the apex court are about medical treatment abroad. However, Sardar Latif Khosa pleaded that his client doesn't intend to go abroad under the pretext of medical treatment, saying Dr Asim's plea for surgery is quite genuine. After a brief hearing, the bench issued notices to the Interior Ministry and the NAB in before it adjourned the hearing for a week.