Asim Hussain

Asim Hussain
SI NI
عاصم حسین
Hussain addressing a public gathering in 2012
Member of the Senate of Pakistan
In office
2009 -2015
Personal details
Born (1953-11-28) 28 November 1953 (age 71)
Karachi, Federal Capital Territory, Pakistan
Nationality Pakistan
 Canada
Political partyPakistan People's Party
RelativesZiauddin Ahmad (grandfather)
EducationCadet College Petaro
Alma materDow Medical College
Known forChairman of Dr. Ziauddin Group of Hospitals
AwardsSitara-i-Imtiaz (2005)
Nishan-i-Imtiaz (2013)
Websitedrasimhussain.com
Military service
AllegiancePakistan
Years of service1990–1995
RankLieutenant

Asim Hussain, SI, NI (born 28 November 1953) is a Pakistani-Canadian, active in the fields of health, education, and Pakistani politics. He is chairman of Ziauddin Group of Hospitals in Karachi, and former Advisor of Prime Minister for Ministry of Oil and Natural Resources, Pakistan.[1][2] He was a member of the Senate of Pakistan as part of Pakistan Peoples Party from 2009 to 2015.[3]

In recognition of his services to the nation in the fields of education and health care he was conferred with the Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Nishan-e-Imtiaz in 2005[4][5] and 2013,[6][7] respectively.

Early life

Hussain was born in Karachi on 28 November 1953. After receiving early education at Karachi Grammar School, Cadet College Petaro, Dow Medical College, he went to Europe for further studies.[8]

Career

Hussain served as the Chairman of National Reconstruction Bureau with the status of Federal Minister from May 2008 until November 2009.[8][9] He was the Advisor to the Prime Minister for Petroleum & Natural Resources/Federal Minister from November 2008 until August 2009.[10] He was the Honorary Personal Physician to the President of Pakistan from 12 December 2009. He was the Advisor/Federal Minister Petroleum & Natural Resource from May 2011 until May 2013.[11][12]

On 27 August 2015, Hussain was detained by the authorities in an ongoing operation within the city of Karachi launched by the Pakistani Army.[13]

He was appointed as the Chairman of Sindh Higher Education in 2014. In 2018, he was re-appointed for a second term,[14] which ended in 2022.[15]

Corruption

In August 2015, Hussain was apprehended by Rangers at his Clifton office at the Higher Education Commission. He faced accusations of concealing assets, granting illegal allotments, land grabbing, misuse of authority, fraud, awarding illegal contracts during his tenure at Sui Southern Gas Company, and money laundering. This was the start of a five-and-a-half-month period in the custody of various Law enforcement agency. In 2016, an accountability court subsequently placed the former minister under judicial remand and indicted him, along with others, in a corruption reference involving Rs460 billion.[16]

In February 2018, an accountability court indicted Hussain and eight others in a case involving the embezzlement of Rs17 billion related to the illegal awarding of contracts for five gas fields in Sindh to Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited.[17]

Personal life

Hussain ran a travel agency and invested in some property, but did not have the needed Canadian credentials to work as a doctor.[18] He is the grandson of Sir Ziauddin Ahmad.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Dr.Asim Hussain | Advisor of Prime Minister for Ministry of Oil and Natural Resources. @ Pakistan Herald". 18 April 2012. Archived from the original on 18 April 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Zardari takes notice of health ministry dispute". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. 19 July 2014.
  3. ^ "Senate of Pakistan". senate.gov.pk. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  4. ^ "KARACHI: 22 get Sitara-e-Imtiaz, Pride of Performance". DAWN.COM. 24 March 2005. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  5. ^ "130 nationals, foreigners to get civil awards". DAWN.COM. 14 August 2004. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  6. ^ "President decorates civil, military personnel for awards on Pakistan Day | Business Recorder". 11 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  7. ^ "President grants different awards to citizens, foreigners - thenews.com.pk". 25 March 2013. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  8. ^ a b c "Chancellor Ziauddin University | Message of Excellence". Ziauddin University. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Asif Ali Zardari, Bilawal condoles death of Dr Asim Hussian's mother". 24 News HD. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  10. ^ "The Curious Case of Dr Asim". Newsline. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  11. ^ "TAG ARCHIVES: DR ASIM HUSSAIN". Pakistan Today. 7 March 2019.
  12. ^ Siddiqui, Kazi Zulkader. "Asim Hussain, 695/Ayub". Petaro.
  13. ^ Ali, Imtiaz (26 August 2015). "Dr Asim Hussain reportedly detained by security personnel in Karachi". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  14. ^ "Dr Asim Hussain declines to work as SHEC chairman for third term". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Dr Tariq Rafi appointed Sindh HEC interim chairman". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
  16. ^ "Dr Asim Hussain case timeline". Dawn. 30 March 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Court rejects Asim Hussain's acquittal plea". The Express Tribune. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Canadian doctor Asim Hussain detained in Pakistan for 'political reasons,' supporters say - World - CBC News". 15 August 2016. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 9 April 2022.