Islamabad: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday challenged the formation of Islamabad High court (IHC)’s larger bench to hear a petition seeking his disqualification for possessing a foreign work permit, also known as ‘Iqama’ in the gulf countries.
The foreign minister submitted a seven-page reply in the court, challenging the formation of three-member bench on Sept 23. He opined that the formation of a larger bench would ultimately deprive him of right to appeal while claiming the petitioner has gone through all legal remedies to get him disqualified from parliament.
Moreover, the foreign minister sought time from the court for submitting a detailed reply over his Iqama. The court while approving the request has adjourned the hearing till November 30.
The petition was filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Usman Dar, seeking Khawaja Asif’s ouster as Foreign Minister over non-disclosure of his Iqama, a permit to work in the UAE. Earlier on Sept 23, a larger bench headed by Justice Aamer Farooq had sought a written reply on the matter from the foreign minister after declaring the petition against him maintainable at the last hearing.
