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Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday filed a written response before the Islamabad High Court, raising objections to a petition that seeks his disqualification.
A three-member bench of the high court ─ comprising Justice Aamer Farooq, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb ─ had admitted the petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) activist Usman Dar for regular hearing on September 26.
The petition seeks Asif's disqualification under Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution, alleging that the foreign minister did not declare details of his employment contract with Mech and Elec Co LLC (IMECL), a company based in the United Arab Emirates, in his nomination papers for the 2013 elections.
The petition adds that Asif had been working as a special adviser in the company since 2011 for a salary of 50,000 UAE dirhams per month, which the minister did not declare in the nomination form while contesting from the NA-110 constituency.
When it admitted the petition for hearing, the high court had sought para-wise comments from Asif. Subsequently, the minister had sought more time to file the reply, which was submitted today.
In the 25-page response, the minister has admitted that he was providing advice to IMECL in his role as a legal adviser.
"It is correct that Khawaja Asif is affiliated with a foreign company," the reply states. However, Asif has refuted the allegation that he had concealed his salary from the UAE firm.
"The 50,000 dirhams were immediately included in the tax returns as income," the reply says. "Dar has not been able to point out any legal violations."
The reply maintains that the petitioner does not have the right to raise questions pertaining to company's relations.
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Comments (34) Closed
Nov 24, 2017 04:47pm
Admission requires courage which the man has shown equally appreciate the vigilance of the opposition.
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Nov 24, 2017 05:06pm
Really genuine disclosure as the income received of UAE Dhs 50000 has been added to Income Tax statement but the Boss NS in the similar capacity failed to add the income of UAE Dhs10000 to his Income tax returns. Boss is trapped.
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Nov 24, 2017 05:12pm
When you are a minister you should not be advising anyone, this is conflict of interest, wait and see this will open up a whole can of worms.
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Nov 24, 2017 05:14pm
Who on earth will hire this man for 50000 Dirhams? This itself should be investigated..
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Nov 24, 2017 05:16pm
@Farrukh Hussain But come you serve as FM of Pakistan and in another company in a different country at the same time? Is that corporation is of Mr Khawaja, from where the funds come to that company?
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Nov 24, 2017 05:29pm
A minister cannot work for any business, whether a Pakistani or foreign business. It is a conflict of interest,
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Nov 24, 2017 05:48pm
@Saad Khan - The funds come to that company probably come from corruption money. Iqama is such a ruse for ministers.
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Nov 24, 2017 06:48pm
@Barkat ha ha ha exactly I was thinking
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Nov 24, 2017 06:53pm
Why we forget that getting Iqama is solely used to open bank accounts outside Pakistan. Salary amount or when and how received is irrelevant. These politicians including KA looted Pakistan. Ask them where they have accounts.
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Nov 24, 2017 07:04pm
Conflict of interest is a thing unknown to these PMLn individuals. No wonder they have amended the asset declaration form so much.
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Nov 24, 2017 07:08pm
Poor ministers of Pakistan can’t run their kitchen with only GOP’s salary n perks that’s why they need to work part time jobs in foreign countries especially in UAE. Recently I came across a govt job in Pak that asked me to submit a Halaf Nama stating I declare I won’t do any private or public job if selected. Is this not require for ministers????
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Nov 24, 2017 07:42pm
@Barkat : AED50,000 a month is not an unusual salary in UAE or middle east per se.
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Nov 24, 2017 08:08pm
It is not a matter of concealment. As an active member of the ruling elite, this is a most outrageous form of conflict of interest. What services are you providing to a company in UAE, when you are a full time minister of the government of Pakistan, and drawing salary and benefits from Pakistan. You are privy to the matters of the state as sensitive as Defense and Foreign Affairs. Also what is this salary for, when you are not even in UAE other than an odd visit here or there. Why would someone pay you this generous salary if they aren't getting anything in return. What is it that you are offering to them?
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Nov 24, 2017 08:13pm
@Life Those who make this kind of salary in Dubai live and work in Dubai. This is perhaps the one case when a minister of a foreign government is employed by a local company in Dubai when he isn't even there. What is this salary for? The issue that a minister or even an employee of the government of Pakistan can't work for another entity in a foreign country comes next.
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Nov 24, 2017 08:34pm
By any rules of any country, he has broken rules and laws of Pakistan. As a foreign minister or in a MNA capacity he cannot provide any assistance unless cleared through senate or by government.
On top of all, he concealed until got caught. He is one untrustworthy and must be disqualified to hold any government positions for lying and holding information from Pakistan.
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Nov 24, 2017 08:38pm
then what is the case if he has declared the income as taxable and paid tax on it then whats the fuss also in ecp well that's personal servant so forget that coming back to income tax dar is saying he does not have that meaning asif must have presented forged docs plus how come he has this aqama when he is full time employee here for govt of Pakistan
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Nov 24, 2017 09:24pm
Admitting or disclosing it does not make it acceptable. This election commissions incompetence to accept his papers.
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Nov 24, 2017 10:44pm
is there any one PML cabinet who does not have Iqama or salary coming form UAE?
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Nov 24, 2017 11:34pm
This govt has unique crown to its credit that many ministers are earning their living by working outside the country rather than endulging in corruption in the country. Pays and perks of ministers should be increased so that these people do not require to do part time work to make ends meet and strict laws as should be made to stop law makers from taking part time jobs.Atleast they are working overseas otherwise everybody would raise objection that they are using their influence to grab the job.
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Nov 25, 2017 12:07am
He worked from 2011-2013 befofre becoming minister. Mr. Imran, your polls are flawed because respondents are not aware of the fact that Khawja worked from 2011-2013 and he is not woorking at the present, so results are not justified.
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Nov 25, 2017 01:18am
50 kl dhurhams.??? I don't think his calibre is worth that. He should have mentioned around 10-15:kl
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Nov 25, 2017 02:25am
Being employed by a private firm, I cannot work for another company. How on earth a serving minister of country can be employed by an overseas firm? Something is wrong here
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Nov 25, 2017 02:43am
50,000 Dirham is not too much for a high level legal advisor. The person only has to give advice when needed and it is not necessarily a full time job. Conflict of interest will apply only if he gave advice regarding confidential things related to Pakistan's foreign policies or any other confidential matter to which he is privy to. Those who accuse him of corruption need to actually find out details of corruption rather than base the entire case on such a flimsy ground.
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Nov 25, 2017 04:10am
Declared or not declared is not the issue .
The mi is ter should have distanced himself and put the company in a blind trust.
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Nov 25, 2017 04:12am
How can a Minister be working for a foreign company while he is in cabinet .
Khawaja Asif should have resigned .from the foreign company as a
Minister .
This is a shameful behaviour for all those who have this arrangement and a definit conflict of interest and greed driven
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Nov 25, 2017 04:14am
@Ayub declaring is not good enough. A minister is not allowed to work for another company especially a foreign company .
People should understand that . This is a clear conflict of interest .
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Nov 25, 2017 05:40am
It is quite simple. You sir are a disgrace to the nation - but live up to your name - ASK for forgiveness, return all ill gotten wealth and live decently here on out.
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Nov 25, 2017 06:11am
What kind of qualifications or expertise has Khawaja Asif got in terms of UAE laws to be eligible for such a hefty paycheque?
Investigations needs to unearth it?
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Nov 25, 2017 06:33am
These guys to include NS don’t understand consequences of working for other country while holding federal jobs in Pakistan. No one has ever explained to them. But are they that naive and dumb?
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Nov 25, 2017 06:59am
He is not worth of even 5,000 AED..
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Nov 25, 2017 07:48am
Being a minister of power and development and serving a foreign power generation company is total conflict of interest and against the spirit of constitution.
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Nov 25, 2017 08:20am
Once elected to the parliament he should have resigned from the post immediately. How many other members of our assemblies are getting salaries and other perks from outside the country is also a big question which should be investigated thoroughly.
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Nov 25, 2017 08:36am
Minster is a government servant and according to rules regulation a minister can not draw salary from any other source while having this post. This is clear breach of contract and Minster has no right to stay in power.
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Nov 25, 2017 11:08am
very good answers , why he was employed in that company . what he was giving in return . do they have any intrest in pakistan,the firm owner is of what nationality . what is the reason behind the job as every one know he is not very talented.
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