Zardari's doctor Asim Hussain: Sindh’s next governor?

[Naveed Yaseen]

National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) Chairman and former advisor to the Prime Minister for Oil and Natural Resources, Dr Asim Hussain, is likely to be nominated as the next Sindh governor.

Dr Hussain has been aspiring to become Sindh governor for a long time, and has reportedly received a nod in this regard from President Asif Ali Zardari. This, however, is yet to be confirmed, and Dr Hussain himself has denied making any efforts to become Sindh governor.

Current Sindh Governor Dr Ishrtaul Ebad Khan has been serving this slot for eight years and some change is inevitable when administrators take charge. Zardari and Dr Hussain are very close — both men were educated at the Cadet College Petaro. “Asif Ali Zardari is my patient and also a good friend,” Dr Hussain told The News. He is also close to Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founder Altaf Hussain and Interior Minister Rehman Malik. Dr Hussain is well-known in diplomatic circles as well.

He has played a vital role in bridging the gap between the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the MQM. Political circles maintain, however, that Dr Hussain’s appointment as Sindh governor will be a bitter pill for the MQM to swallow.

It is also reported that some give-and-take policy will be adopted by Zardari. Administrators in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur will be appointed in accordance with the wishes of the MQM.

The governor, however, is likely to be from the PPP.

Dr Hussain had been facilitating Zardari since the time the latter was admitted at the Ziauddin Hospital during the era of former presidents Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Farooq Leghari. Dr Hussain has never been part of the PPP, but he was given the portfolio in the capacity of an advisor in the coalition government.

By virtue of being the owner of Ziauddin Hospital, Dr Hussain had also facilitated some MQM leaders when they were admitted there during the State operation against the MQM under former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Meanwhile, Dr Hussain had been attending important meetings at the MQM London secretariat. PPP leaders and workers, however, are reportedly not very fond of him because he has an influence over the top PPP leadership, but they do not oppose him openly.

PPP leaders maintain that Dr Hussain had never done any work for the party, and is just a friend of Zardari. The PPP leaders and workers also point out that Dr Hussain is not an elected member.

He was also strongly criticized over the Carbon Tax issue, and was reportedly removed for this reason. Dr Hussain, on the other hand, maintains that the reason for his resignation was private and personal.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=193892