*ISLAMABAD: Khawaja Asif has challenged his disqualification at the handsof the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for concealing his UAE work permit. *
On April 26, Asif was disqualified under Article 62 (1)(f) of theConstitution for non-disclosure of his employment in a UAE company andmonthly salary in his nomination papers by IHC’s larger bench comprisingJustice Athar Minallah, Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin AkhtarKayani.
The PML-N leader challenged his disqualification in the Supreme Court,requesting it to strike down the verdict. On May 2, a bench of the topcourt while admitting his appeal for hearing issued notices to all partiesinvolved in the case.
In his reply, Khawaja Asif submitted there are no legal curbs, preventingany member of Parliament from taking up any employment. The ground on thebasis of which he was disqualified is erroneous, he added.
He said he declared his profession as a businessman in his nominationpapers as proceeds from his personal business make up a large part of histotal income while his salary from the employment in question was not assuch.
The PML-N leader said the amount he received under the head of the salarywas also included in the assets he mentioned in nomination papers.