Islamabad High Court terminates Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif in Iqama case

Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday disqualified Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif from the parliament for holding a work permit (Iqama) of United Arab Emirates.

The decision is a big blow to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party ahead of the general election.

A special bench of the Islamabad High Court, consisting of three members disqualified Khawaja Asif under Article 62(1) (f) of the Constitution, read with section 99 (1) (f) of the Act of 1976.

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"We declare that the Respondent was not qualified to contest the General Election of 2013 from NA-110 as he did not fulfil the conditions described under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution, read with section 99(1)(f) of the Act of 1976," reads the judgment, reported a leading Pakistani daily.

"The Registrar of this Court is directed to send certified copy of this judgment to the Election Commission for de-notifying the Respondent as Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan. A copy is also directed to be sent to the Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan for information," it added.

In 2017, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif was disqualified as the prime minister for his involvement in the Panama Papers case.