Islamabad High Court disqualifies Khawaja Asif 'with a heavy heart'

Islamabad High Court has disqualified Khawaja Asif as a member of the parliament under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution.

The order stated that at the time of submitting nomination papers for general elections 2013 the former foreign minister did not disclose his employment in a company in the United Arab Emirates as an occupation as well as the monthly salary he had been receiving.

The three-member bench observed in its judgment that political forces should settle their grievances in political forums.

“However, when political forces, instead of settling disputes at the political forums, particularly the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) resort to the courts, it has consequences not only for the institutions but the litigant public as well,” the judgment read.

“This conduct of political forces lowers public confidence in the Legislature on the one hand and on the other hand exposes the institution of the judiciary to the controversies of adversarial politics. The political forces are expected to settle their grievances before the political forums rather than taking the precious time of the bona fide litigants awaiting justice to be dispensed,” the judges added.

The judges state, "We have handed down this judgement with a heavy heart not only because a seasoned and accomplished political figure stands disqualified but more so because the dreams and aspirations of 342,125 registered voters have suffered a setback."

Justice Ather Minullah, who was heading the three-member bench, read the verdict which they reserved on April 10 after hearing arguments of both the sides.

Petition against Khawaja Asif was filed by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf's Usman Dar on the plea that he (Khawaja Asif) did not declare his Iqama in the nomination papers for general elections, 2013.  

The court stated in its verdict that Asif was not even qualified to contest polls in 2013. The Islamabad Court registrar was also directed to send a copy of the judgment to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the speaker of the national assembly to denotify Khawaja Asif as foreign minister and a member of parliament.

The last assignment of Khawaja Asif was his participation as Foreign Minister in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization held in China. 

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan welcomed the Islamabad High Court verdict. He said that Asif targeted Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital and therefore he has been publicly humiliated abroad as well.

Another darbari of the Godfather disqualified on the same pattern - using iqama to shield corruption & indulge in money laundering - as well as being guilty of brazen conflict of interest. Allah Al Haq hai - Kh Asif targeted SKMTH & has been publicly humiliated here & abroad

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 26, 2018

 Khawaja Asif was elected as Member of the National Assembly from NA-110 Sialkot.