Islamabad (April 26, 2018): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Usman Dar on Thursday said he salutes the judiciary for disqualifying Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif.
“I salute the judiciary on this commendable judgment,” Dar said while addressing the media outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) moments after a three-member bench headed by Justice Minallah ruled that Asif stands disqualified from Parliament for holding an Iqama (work permit) of the United Arab Emirates.
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The verdict came on a disqualification petition filed by Dar, who contested and lost the 2013 general election against Asif in NA-110, Sialkot.
Dar had petitioned that Asif was not entitled to hold the office of MNA nor of the federal minister under the Unlimited Term Employment Contract between him and International Mechanical and Electrical Co (IMECO), a company located in Abu Dhabi.
Jubilant after hearing the verdict, Dar said, “I congratulate the people of Sialkot.”
“People of Sialkot have finally been rid of this godfather,” he added.
The PTI leader also congratulated party workers and thanked them for their “support on social media”.
“All credit for today’s victory goes to my leader Imran Khan,” he added while thanking the PTI chief and Jehangir Tareen.
Dar further said that he warned Asif that he “will not give up and will keep fighting.”
He also criticised Asif’s earlier speech against PTI chief Imran Khan in Parliament and said, “This is the same Asif who criticised my leader in Parliament and I then vowed to throw him out of there.”
PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry also spoke to media men outside the IHC following the verdict.
“This is a huge achievement,” he said.
The IHC on Thursday ruled that Asif is not ‘honest’ and ‘truthful’ as per the Constitution. The court stated that Asif did not mention his foreign employment in his nomination papers.
The three bench members unanimously ruled that Asif has been disqualified as per Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution.
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The court announced its verdict on a petition stating that Asif did not mention his foreign employment in his nomination papers.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Athar Minallah announced the verdict and ruled that Asif is not ‘honest’ and ‘truthful’ as per the Constitution.
Dar and PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry were present in court when the verdict was read out whereas no one from Asif’s side was present.
As per the law, Asif will be unable to hold public or party office for life.
The Case
The verdict was reserved by the larger bench headed by Justice Minallah on April 10 after hearing arguments from both sides.
As per the petitioner, Asif was not entitled to hold office of MNA nor of federal minister under the Unlimited Term Employment Contract between him and International Mechanical and Electrical Co (IMECO), a company located in Abu Dhabi.
Asif was hired as a full-time employee of IMECO since at least July 2, 2011 and has held various positions, including those of the legal adviser and special adviser, the petition stated.
The contract signed between the foreign minister and the company claimed that Asif was to receive a monthly basic salary of AED35,000 along with a monthly allowance of AED15,000.
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