Ex- Pak FM Asif challenges disqualification

Former Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Mohammed Asif on Saturday submitted a written reply in the Supreme Court, challenging his disqualification.

In his reply, Mr Asif said that the Constitution or law did not bar anyone to work as a member of National Assembly, adding that major part of his income came from private business. “Listing business as an occupation is not wrong,” he said.

The reply further stated that no transaction has been made from Mr Asif’s bank account in Dubai. “Non- declaration of closed account is not unlawful,” he added. He said that he mistakenly concealed the Dubai bank account details.

On April 27, the Islamabad High Court disqualified Khawaja Asif from the parliament under Article 62 (1) ( f). A threemember bench, headed by Justice Athar Minallah, had reserved verdict on Pakistan Tehrik- e- Insaf ( PTI) leader Usman Dar’s plea on April- 10. The verdict was announced by Justice Athar Minallah.

The bench disqualified Khawaja Asif in the following words: “We declare that the Respondent was not qualified to contest the General Election of 2013 from NA 110 as he did not fulfill the conditions described under Article 62( 1)( f) of the Constitution, read with section 99( 1)( f) of the Act of 1976. The petition is, therefore, allowed. 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.”