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Pakistan PM Abbasi condemns Khawaja Asif's disqualification

WION Web Team
PakistanUpdated: May 06, 2018, 10:24 AM IST
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File photo of Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Photograph:(ANI)

Condemning the disqualification of former Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Asif, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that the country which does not respect its politicians can never progress.

Abbasi while addressing a ceremony in Pakistan's Pasrur said that politicians must get the same amount of respect as judges, generals, and government officials, The Geo TV reported on Saturday.

He said, "Politicians are in the front when it comes to running countries and solving problems."

Further supporting ousted Khawaja Asif, he said that disqualification on the basis of Iqama is nothing and that it is a type of visa and nothing else. 

Asif had served a large number of people and it would not benefit Pakistan if it disqualifies its political leaders on the basis of a visa, Abbasi added. He claimed that such a decision will not be accepted by the people. 

Further referring to the upcoming assembly elections in Islamabad, Abbasi said that the decision of the public must be respected and shall be maintained for the next five years until the next general elections.

Earlier Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Imran Khan had supported the decision of disqualification on the basis of Iqama.

He said Asif had degraded the sanctity of the Parliament and let down several Pakistan citizens who had voted him to power.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan heard Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Khawaja Asif's petition challenging his disqualification by the Islamabad High Court on May 4. 

Asif had stated in his review petition that he unintentionally failed to disclose his foreign work permit in his nomination papers — the basis for the Islamabad High Court (IHC) decision against him. 

The PML-N leader, considered a close aide of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was disqualified under Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution for failing to disclose his employment by a UAE company and the monthly salary paid by it in his nomination papers on April 27 .

The high court disqualified Asif in response to a petition by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar.