ISLAMABAD: SC has suspended here today the LHC verdict apropos lifetime disqualification of PML-N’s Khawaja Asif.
Justice Umar Ata Bandiyal, who headed the three-member bench, stated: “Reasons to be recorded later. We allow this petition and convert it into appeal”. This verdict by the SC will allow Khawaja Asif to contest the upcoming election.
It is pertinent to mention here that IHC had disqualified Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif under Article 62 (i) (f) of the Constitution for the non-disclosure of his employment as an occupation and the monthly salary he was receiving: “These ought to have been truly declared in the nomination paper of, at best, when the statement regarding foreign remittances and details thereof were challenged”, the Court held.
Back in 2017, PTI’s Usman Dar had moved the high court against Asif on the grounds that Asif did not declare his job in UAE, salary in the 2013 nomination papers. Khawaja Asif’s lawyer contended before the court that his client had declared AED50,000 as foreign income in papers.
A relevant piece published earlier:
Khawaja Asif disqualified, A three-member bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC) headed by Justice Athar Minallah has disqualified Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif under section 62, 63 of the Constitution for holding a UAE Iqama (work permit). However, claiming that he had never tried to hide his Iqama, Khawaja Muhammad Asif said he would move the SC. It is pertinent to mention here that the larger bench (comprising Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Aamer Farooq & Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani) was hearing to a petition filed by PTI’s Usman Dar in 2017. Petitioner’s counsel, maintaining that Asif had not declared the fact that he held a foreign work permit in the nomination papers, nominated Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the National Assembly secretary as respondents and sought relief under Article 199(1)9b)(ii) read with Article 63(1)(f). Prosecution counsel, pointing out that Khawaja Asif had signed Unlimited Term Employment Contract with Abu Dhabi-based International Mechanical and Electrical Company Ltd., told that he was drawing AED50,000/m working as an adviser. In the last general elections petitioner, Usman Dar had contested against Khawaja Asif from NA110 (Sialkot-1) constituency. (26th of April, 2016)
