KARACHI: Opposing the plea of former federal minister and Pakistan Peoples Party`s Karachi president Dr Asim Hussain for undergoing spinal surgery abroad, the federal government informed the Sindh High Court on Monday that he was barred from leaving the country because of his involvement in multibillion-rupee corruption cases.

Deputy Attorney General Liaquat Shailch told a two-judge bench that the interior ministry had placed the name of Dr Hussain on the Exit Control List on the order of the high court and recommendations of the National Accountability Bureau, the country`s top anti-graft body that had filed two corruption references against him.

He said Dr Hussain could not be allowed to leave the country due to his involvement in massive corruptioncases and requested the court to reject his application seeking removal of his name from the ECL.

NAB prosecutor Mohammad Altaf also vehemently opposed Dr Hussain`s plea for leaving the country and contended that the SHC, while granting him bail in the corruption cases on medical grounds, had directed him to deposit his passports along with the surety amount.

He pointed out that the SHC in its order had directed the interior ministry to place Dr Hussain`s name on the ECL. The NAB prosecutor contended that the name of a person involved in causing losses to the national exchequer could be placed on the ECL under the rules and regulations.

The bench headed by Justice Junaid Ghaffar put off the hearing to May 26.

Oil tankers` shif ting ordered Meanwhile, the SHC directed theprovincial and city authorities for the umpteenth time to shift `with immediate effect` oil tankers to Zulfikarabad Oil Terminal from the city.

Headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar, a two-judge bench on Saturday also directed the chief secretary to appear in court on May 20 along with detailed reports regarding the provision of 50 acres near Hub River Road for parking of oil tankers coming from Balochistan.

The judges had heard till late in the evening on Saturday in their chamber a set of petitions filed by Faisal Bangali and other concerned citizens against the provincial authorities for failing to enforce the ban initially imposed by the Supreme Court.

The court order of Saturday`s proceedings said that the city mayor suggested that a committee be formed to resolve the problem of traffic jams in the city and to streamline the movement of heavy vehicles. `This suggestion will be considered on the nextdate. Meanwhile, parties may suggest names for forming such committee`, it added.

The order said: `In view of the above, it is ordered that oil tankers be shifted with immediate effect to Zulfikarabad Oil Terminal which shall be used henceforth by oil tankers for parking and other allied matters.

Government of Sindh, KMC and all authorities concerned shall ensure that the entire remaining development work at the said terminal is completed as per the Master Plan thereof within sixty (60) days.

The city traffic police chief in his report said that the flow of traffic has eased and improved in Karachi to a significant extent after restriction on heavy vehicles in the city.

His report further states that there has been a sharp decrease in the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents after restriction on heavy vehicles during the above period.