Another courtier disqualified: Imran

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday hailed the Islamabad High Court's decision disqualifying Khawaja Asif as member of the National Assembly.

“Another darbari of the godfather disqualified on the same pattern,” Imran tweeted on Asif’s disqualification for holding an Iqama (work permit) of the United Arab Emirates. He said, "Now it is Ahsan Iqbal's turn."

“Using Iqama to shield corruption and indulge in money laundering -- as well as being guilty of brazen conflict of interest,” he added, explaining why Asif and former premier Nawaz Sharif were disqualified.

“Asif targeted SKMTH and has been publicly humiliated here and abroad,” the PTI chairman further said. Meanwhile, the PTI leader Usman Dar, who had fought the previous general election against Khawaja Asif, said that his struggle of five years had borne fruit. In a chat with media persons, he maintained that he had saved the people of Sialkot from godfather after 32 years. “I stood victorious in front of the Sialkot people. The party workers gave me strength and passion. The credit of today’s win goes to my leader Imran Khan,” he emphasised.

“My struggle against Asif was underway for the last five years. Today, the PTI has brought this case to logical conclusion. The foreign minister was receiving Rs1.6 million per month salary from the UAE for doing no work,” he claimed.

The PTI Information Secretary Fawad Chaudhry said that the court told Khawaja Asif as to what was ‘sharm-o-haya’. He described the court judgement as a huge victory of people of Pakistan and his party. He claimed that along with the PML-N leader, the accountability of another 40 ‘thieves’ had also been carried out.

He disputed the former minister’s claim of having iqama just for opening of a bank account abroad and said that he had opened bank accounts abroad for transfer of money.

PTI leader Dr Shireen Mazari in a message said, “Khawaja Asif disqualified by IHC, Justice done! Had major conflicts of interest for working for a foreign company being first defence minister and then foreign minister and then concealing all the relevant info! Good riddance to bad rubbish.”

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in the Senate Sherry Rehman said the IHC verdict on disqualification of Khawaja Asif was not surprising as being a member of National Assembly or Senator it was not suited to a politician to keep a work permit for any other country.

“The PML-N is constantly putting our national image at stake as no one, be it a prime minister or federal minister, had a right to hold foreign work permit,” the PPP leader said while talking to reporters at her chamber at the Parliament House. She said Khawaja Asif should immediately resign from the post of foreign minister as in majority of countries, this post is important after the office of the prime minister.

Sherry Rehman said that in the past, disqualification verdict also came against Yusuf Raza Gilani, which was accepted by the PPP despite reservations. She said Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi only came to Parliament four times, while Nawaz Sharif never felt the need to come to Parliament during his tenure.