Khawaja Asif submits reply to SC in qualification case

ISLAMABAD: Former foreign minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday submitted to the Supreme Court his reply in a petition through which he challenged his disqualification at the hands of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for concealing his UAE work permit. 

On April 26, Asif was disqualified under Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution for non-disclosure of his employment in a UAE company and monthly salary in his nomination papers by IHC’s larger bench comprising Justice Athar Minallah, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani.

The PML-N leader challenged his disqualification in the apex court, requesting it to strike down the verdict. On May 2, a bench of the top court while admitting his appeal for hearing issued notices to all parties involved in the case.

In his reply, Khawaja Asif submitted there are no legal curbs, preventing any member of Parliament from taking up any employment.  The ground on the basis of which he was disqualified is erroneous, he added.

He said he declared his profession as a businessman in his nomination papers as proceeds from his personal business make up a large part of his total income while his salary from the employment in question was not as such.

The PML-N leader said the amount he received under the head of the salary was also included in the assets he mentioned in nomination papers.