Daily Times

SIALKOT: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s senior leader and Former foreign minister Khawaja Asif will challenge his disqualification verdict in the Supreme Court today.

Asif made the announcement while addressing a party rally in his hometown Sialkot’s Allama Iqbal Chowk on Tuesday. He said that he was hoping for justice from the apex court.

Asif said, “I have served the people for the last 28 years.”

He also said that no one could stop him from participating in politics.

“If I am not able to contest the elections then someone else will contest it in my place,” he added.

He returned to his constituency for the first time after his disqualification and said that he had received at least 92,000 votes in the previous general elections.

He also added that he was again hoping to attain votes for the PML-N in 2018.

“Only one month is left before the government’s tenure ends, I have supported Nawaz Sharif every time and I am extremely proud of him,” he added.

According to the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) verdict that disqualified Asif, the former foreign minister did not declare his foreign employment in his nomination papers and the monthly salary he was receiving.

Thus, he was disqualified by the IHC under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution on April 27.

Justice Athar Minallah headed a three-member bench that announced the decision and declared Asif as not ‘honest’ and ‘truthful’ as per the Constitution.

The High Court also directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to notify the lawmaker and as per the judgment, Asif will no longer be able to hold public or party office.