A major blow to the ruling PML-N party ahead of the general elections came when a a three-member special bench of the Islamabad High Court disqualified Pakistan’s foreign minister Khwaja Asif from the parliament. It appears that Khwaja Asif had concealed details of his UAE work permit while contesting polls in 2013.
The unanimous verdict by a bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, ruled that Asif was not “truthful” and “honest” and disqualified him under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution.
Seeking disqualification of Asif for holding an Iqama (work permit) of the UAE, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar had filed a petition earlier. Dar had challenged the qualification Asif in 2013 after loosing elections against him and asked him to declare his job and salary while contesting the polls.
Asif will be unable to hold public or party office for life after the verdict.
Article 62, which sets the precondition for a member of parliament to be “sadiq and ameen” (honest and righteous), is the same provision under which former prime minsiter Sharif was disqualified on July 28, 2017, in the Panama Papers case.
Asif being one of top leaders of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, this disqualification will be another huge blow to the party ahead of election scheduled to be held after June.
“The Registrar of this Court is directed to send certified copy of this judgment to the Election Commission for de-notifying the Respondent as Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. A copy is also directed to be sent to the Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan for information,” the court said.
“I never concealed my iqama,” Asif said reacting to the verdict.
Usman Dar alleged that Asif had Unlimited Term Employment Contract with International Mechanical and Electrical Co. He was hired as a full-time employee in July, 2011 and held various positions and received a monthly basic salary of AED 35,000 along with a monthly allowance of AED 15,000, which he did not declare.