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Pakistan’s Foreign Minister disqualified by court for holding a UAE work permit

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister was disqualified  a three-member special bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) as a member of the parliament under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution for not disclosing his employment in a UAE company as an occupation as well as the monthly salary he was receiving, reported the Dawn.

Addressing the argument by Asif’s legal team that “since copies of the passport attached with the nomination paper also contained a copy of the ‘iqama’, therefore there was no misrepresentation or concealment”, the judgement says:

“Iqama is merely a residence visa issued by the immigration officials. In the instant case, the non-disclosure was that of the employment as an occupation and the salary per month received there under.”

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The judgement also makes a reference to the Panama Papers case, saying: “Supreme Court has not disqualified the former prime minister [Nawaz Sharif] merely for holding an ‘Iqama’ but rather his disqualification was due to non-disclosure of assets; holding an ‘Iqama’ cannot be made the basis for attracting Article 62(1)(f).”

The foreign minister, while talking to Geo TV, said that he will challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court. “I never concealed my iqama,” he said.

It is not clear if Asif would have to step down from his post as foreign minister following the denotification from ECP.

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